Through Drawing, Painting, 3D Art, Portfolio, Illustration, and Design, MacDuffie students electing to study Visual Arts will learn how to utilize the Elements and Principles of Design to create unique artworks that speak to each individuals’ interest. Students will learn the importance of creative thinking, hard work and dedication, problem-solving, professional level expectations, and the significance of Visual Arts in society while developing their individual skills. Students have the opportunity to build on already acquired knowledge and skills as well as opportunities to learn new ones.
Upper School
In the Upper School, we offer classes that are deemed as fundamental to advanced. Students are first exposed to a wide range of Art that allows them the freedom of expressions and growth of their inner voice and style. From there they are guided to choose a direction in a more advanced form. This includes Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, or an individual focus in Portfolio, for those pursuing the Arts in a more professional/educational future.
Middle School
Middle School students focus on the introduction of the Principles of Art and the Elements of Art. They are guided through lessons that apply these principles and how to use them to establish successful pieces of work. 6 and 7th graders focus on the Elements of art, which consist of the basic building blocks of art such as Line, Shape, Pattern, Form, Texture. Once they are in 8th grade, students focus on the Principles of Art, which involve Composition, Movement, Harmony, Rhythm.
Visual Arts Show
Every year in the Spring, the students display their work and showcase their skills and growth in their art. Middle school students display their work alongside the other Arts in a Middle School Arts Night, which runs twice a year.
Alumni
Past Alum are currently working on their professional careers, making a life based around their passions. Students from MacDuffie have gone to schools such as California Arts College, Rhode Island School of Design, Hartford Art University, School of Visual Arts, and much more!
National Art Honor Society
We are happy to offer students the opportunity to become part of the National Art Honor Society. The NAHS program is for students from 9 to 12th grade. This is also available for interested Middle School students, as they will be considered to be part of the National Junior Art Honor Society (NJAHS). This society is here to support and recognize students who have shown outstanding abilities in art as well as to support student members in their goal of attaining the highest standards in visual arts, and brings visual arts education to the attention of the school and community (as stated on the NAHS website). This Honor society helps our students become active leaders in the arts, as well as give them opportunities to expose their work to the world as they grow as artists.