Visual Arts
Visual Arts
Eyeing Her
Potential
At GPS, the Visual Arts program empowers girls to explore their creativity, develop their artistic voice, and express themselves with confidence.
Guided by dedicated faculty and inspired by the world around her, she’ll gain the technical skills and creative freedom to turn her ideas into powerful visual stories.
I started making art as far back as I can remember. The Visual Arts program at GPS is incredible, and though I’ve done art my whole life, GPS has taught me so much I didn’t know. Art has shaped who I am, and GPS has so many opportunities for others to feel the same!”Hafsah N '30
Meet Faculty
I took Art I as a junior and really enjoyed it. The following year, I took Art II and found myself looking forward to that class more than my free periods. As I thought about what I really enjoyed in my four years at GPS, art was the class that stood out the most. Because I realized I loved it so much, I decided that I wanted a minor in art when I went to college.Caiden W. '25
Visual Arts Opportunities
Below is a sample of opportunities available. Classes may change due to student interest.
AP 2D Art & Design
The AP2D Art and Design course is designed to develop students' 2-D skills using various materials and processes, including graphic design, photography, collage, printmaking, and fashion illustration. Students who excel in this course typically possess a desire to enhance their artistic ability and apply their art to their visual surroundings.
AP 3D Art & Design
AP3D Art and Design focuses on developing 3-D skills across various materials and processes, including sculpture, architectural rendering, metal work, ceramics, and glass work. This course is designed for students eager to enhance their artistic abilities and apply art within their visual environments. Students who excel in AP Art are those who are willing to engage in deep exploration of their artistic practice.
AP Drawing Portfolio
AP Drawing Portfolio offers advanced art students with a high level of creative energy the opportunity to continue to explore their vision in developing a portfolio for college-level review and credit that reflects their personal voice, a point of view, and emerging style. Students will engage in producing drawings, paintings on canvas, and experimental relief and transfer printmaking processes inspired by imagination or direct observation, or informed by digital imagery.
Ceramics
Students will learn the basics of hand-building, wheel work, and surface design and work toward acquiring a foundation to manipulate clay as a means of self-expression. Classes are available for beginning level artists and for those who want to build on their skills learned in Ceramics I.
College Portfolio
Designed for seniors interested in continuing studies in visual art outside the structure of an AP course. Projects are designed to meet the creative needs of the girl who would like to focus on one topic, technique, or medium as well as the girl who would like to have a variety of creative experiences.
Drawing
Develop skills using a variety of mediums, including charcoal, colored pencils, chalk pastels, and graphite pencils to explore texture, shading, line work, and mark-making.
Painting
Investigate light, form, and color through the paint medium. Interpret still-life arrangements, human figures, structures, and abstraction using traditional and innovative techniques.
Printmaking
Explore essential printmaking methods, including relief printing, intaglio, and screen printing, while developing technical skills with tools like carving implements, inks, and printing presses.
Sculpture
Work in 3D with a variety of materials such as clay, wood, plaster, and other interesting and sometimes unusual materials.