Our Visual Arts program encourages every student to explore and develop their creative potential. Through a range of traditional and digital media, students gain the skills and confidence to express themselves artistically. We aim to foster not just technical ability, but a lifelong appreciation for the value of art in personal and cultural expression.

 

Lower School

Sparking Creativity

Every child is an artist. Harnessing this natural creativity is the goal of ODA’s arts educators.

The Lower School Visual Arts Program focuses on developing a love of art in each student. Texture, form, and design elements are introduced to Lower School students as their teachers guide them step-by-step to develop the ability to create their own work. Student work is displayed during formal shows, as well as throughout the community in art shows, displays, and contests.

 

Middle School

Masterpieces in the Making

Students use traditional and emerging technologies to learn and apply more complex technical skills to manipulate the elements of art and principles of design.

The Middle School Visual Arts program exposes students to a wide variety of approaches that encourage personal expression through the use of various artistic media. Through discussions and group critiques, students learn to appreciate each individual voice and the great range and diversity that art provides. These skills enable students to develop a worldview by placing the discipline of art within a broader context and relating it to other fields of knowledge.

 

Upper School

Pushing the Boundaries of Expression

Visual Arts offers Upper School student-artists numerous opportunities for meaningful self-expression, creative exploration, and collaboration.

Students may choose from a number of course offerings, including studio art, sculpture, 3D, film studies, graphic design, and photography. Students participate in group critiques to offer new perspectives on each other’s work as they hone their skills and learn how meaningful dialogue is incorporated into the artistic process. At this advanced level, student-artist work overlaps with the many other school disciplines as their creative outlets incorporate knowledge learned through history, literature, science, and philosophy.

Student-Artist Showcase

Featured Artwork from Across Our Divisions

Flickr album: Student Artwork | Height: 500px | Theme: Right Panel | Skin: Default - Transparent

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