The Visual Arts Department at Glenelg Country School strives to provide an Art Education program that includes Art History, Art Criticism, Aesthetics and, most importantly, Studio Arts experience. Grades Kindergarten through eighth attend art class twice a week throughout the School year. Students in the Lower School have an opportunity to participate in a program rich in social and historical context.

The social studies core curriculum is utilized to provide opportunity for cross-curricular units often throughout the year. Students explore the art of such cultures as Ancient Egypt, Australia, Meso-American, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, modern Japan, The Middle Ages, and Italian Renaissance. In addition to these cultures, students zero in on artists and movements that have had a great impact on the visual arts throughout the years. First Graders learn about Monet in Giverny, and Mondrain; Second Graders study Van Gogh; Third Graders learn about Picasso, specifically his early years; Fourth Graders learn about the French Impressionists, Post Impressionists, and the Fauves; and our Fifth Gaders learn the Italian Renaissance artists such as Bellini, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, and Raphael among others. Students in each grade throughout the Lower School work with rich, diverse mediums such as painting, both water color and tempera, drawing with pencils, colorered pencils, conte crayons, pastels, markers and charcoal, printmaking including monotype, relief, Styrofoam and block printing, clay, and a variety of three-dimensional art projects in a sequential manor appropriate to each grade level.

In the Middle School students have an ever-changing curriculum based on the publication, Scholastic Art. Each issue offers study materials on the featured artist, period, and style. Through guided reading and discussions, students study past and current works of art, observe a variety of medium, and are exposed to student art. A worksheet accompanies each magazine. A workshop follows in which the students create their own art work in the theme of the featured artist.

Emphasis on the fundamental elements of drawing, painting, and three-dimensional art permeates the classes in our Upper School. Studio Arts I and Advanced Studio Art (II and above) are offered throughout the year. Small class size enables the Studio Art I class to provide a foundation in basic art mediums and skills. Drawing skills such as type and quality of line, value, texture, form, space, and mass are covered. Students also have the opportunity to learn contour, gesture drawing through formal, traditional studio arts exercises geared towards the ability of the individual students. Advanced Studio Art allows interested students to further their skills while more attention is paid to detail, design and color. Greater flexibility is accorded to students interested in building a portfolio for application to art schools.