Studio Art

Ascension Academy offers college preparatory art instruction to students through hands-on projects that reflect art created in professional art studios. The principles and elements of art are introduced and explored through comprehensive, multi-level technical instruction in drawing, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, acrylic and oil painting, watercolor, pastel, collage, encaustic, sculpture, mosaic and functional ceramic clay.

Cardinal artists also learn to view art objectively rather than subjectively through project critiques. Successful art critiques are based on respect for the art and the artist and center on pre-determined project criteria. Each student learns to examine, explore, and evaluate their own art and the art of others by asking questions, offering individual interpretation, and stating communicative intention.

Special Feature!

Enjoy these videos produced by our Studio Art teacher, Nannette Pilcher, and her 7th & 8th grade students for their final project of the semester. In these Claymation Stop Motion Projects, each student created a unique clay character. They were then grouped to develop a short story featuring their characters. Students crafted props and scenery using materials from the supply closet, such as cardboard, fabric, and clay. Filming involved careful teamwork to animate their scenes, with each movement requiring multiple shots. After filming, they recorded dialogue and added sound effects. Finally, visual edits and background music were incorporated. This project allowed each student to be part of a bigger production and learn all the steps of creating, producing, acting, and finishing a short film from start to finish.