Visual Arts
In concert with Marin Catholic's mission to educate the whole person,
the Visual Arts Department at Marin Catholic offers a broad and stimulating
curriculum suitable for all levels of ability, with a maximum enrollment of
twenty students per class.
Taught in the newly renovated, award-winning Wiegand Arts Wing, classes are designed to provide technical information, historical and cultural background and myriad opportunities to explore and develop craftsmanship, aesthetics and creativity. Studio work is supplemented with slides, videos, lectures, group projects, speakers, museum visits, journaling sketchbooks, art discussion and criticism. Student work is showcased year-round on the Marin Catholic campus, and is featured most extensively during the spring Visual and Performing Arts Week and during the fun and fanciful Tea-pot Contest. MC student art has also been shown at the Corte Madera Town Center, Celebrate the Arts, Artisans and In Focus.
The Visual Arts program offers a variety of two and three dimensional design experiences, stressing the Elements of Art and the Principals of Design with an eye on craftsmanship. Class curriculum is based on the National Arts Standards for the Visual Arts. Classes are offered sequentially to provide for a four-year program in the Visual Arts. Art I is the foundation for all art classes with the exception of Introduction to Ceramics. Art I or instructor permission is required for all year long visual arts classes.
Art I focuses on the fundamentals. Students are introduced to drawing, color
theory, painting, design and sculpture, with a goal of providing ample
opportunity to recognize and develop creativity as a life-long adventure.
After Art I students may take Art 2 or Ceramics I.
Art II offers units in two-point perspective, portraiture, watercolor, and others. Art II is the springboard to the more advanced concepts and techniques students face in Drawing and Painting and Advanced Portfolio Preparation.
Ceramics I focuses on hand-building and wheel techniques in constructing pottery and sculpture. After Ceramics I students may go on to Ceramics 2, which offers more in-depth design problems and complex projects.
Marin Catholic's Visual Arts teachers are the key to student success, and we gratefully recognize Orin Carpenter, Mark Jaeger, Laurie Reemsnyder and Dave Tuchsen for their desire to instill love of visual arts as part of the Marin Catholic philosophy of development of the whole person. As a result of their commitment, students develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, management of time and resources, and design that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills.