Visual Arts

Visual Arts training on The Hill encompasses more than producing art.  Students gain knowledge and skills in the areas of Visual Arts history, aesthetic awareness, and Visual Arts criticism.  Visual Arts encourage the development of cognitive, higher order thinking and problem-solving skills.  Students gain these skills in Visual Arts classes by learning to perceive, conceptualize, and produce Visual Arts.

Visual Arts helps Lower School children develop their ability to think in visual and verbal terms.  They attend Visual Arts classes on a weekly basis throughout the school year.  Middle School students spend a year exploring a variety of Visual Artists and media to expand their visual language and technical skills.

Upper School students are offered year-long Visual Arts courses that encompass a wide array of opportunities to examine various aspects of the Visual Arts and fashion that challenge the ability levels of each individual student.

Students of the Visual Arts display work throughout the TSA campus, the community and media sources.  Students’ Visual Arts work is often selected for entry into various contests and exhibitions.  TSA Visual Artists are also encouraged to attend local Visual Arts showings and museum exhibits.  The primary goal, however, of the Visual Arts department is to produce students who can think, interpret, and reflect upon what they have learned.

Visual Arts Club

The TSA Visual Arts Club is an opportunity for High School students to participate artistically within the Visual Arts community, TSA campus, and exchange knowledge and information with other Visual Arts Club members.  Members participate creatively with Fall Festival, Christmas of the Visual Arts, Tuomey’s tree decorating, Accessibility, Shenanigan’s, and fundraising opportunities for the Visual Arts department.

Curriculum

All Visual Arts students are taught from the inspiration of master Visual Artists and designers.  They learn about Visual Arts history, technique processes, conceptual thinking, critique methods, as well as developing a sense of personal style.

Lower School
Lower School students attend Visual Arts class once a week for 45 minutes.  There they learn about Visual Artists and craftsmen’s lives, techniques, and Visual Artwork.  Students work from the inspiration of these Visual Artists creating their own artwork, journals, and ideas.  

Middle School
Middle School students attend a year-long course in Visual Arts.  They work with a variety of media and techniques exploring all genres of Visual Arts, Visual Artists, and materials.

Upper School

Visual Arts I  
Students are offered a year-long Visual Arts I course that follows the framework of the “elements of design and principles of Visual Arts” studies through various media and techniques.

Visual Arts II 
Students expand their knowledge of the elements and principles through developing their personal style and conceptual process. 

Visual Arts III
Students focus on building their portfolios for scholarship and college entrance requirements while they explore new techniques.   Students are encouraged to think conceptually, follow visual and verbal instruction, and to develop a sense of personal style. 

Fashion Design 
Students learn the basics of hand and machine sewing as well as understand fashion history and trends.  They will learn to work from a pattern, construct various clothing and accessory items, take part in a fashion show, as well as many other fashion/Visual Arts methods.  They will also develop an awareness of their personal fashion style.

Special Events Programs

The TSA Visual Visual Arts Department enters students’ Visual Artwork in various competitions throughout the year.  They include but are not limited to:

S.C. State Fair
The SC Safe Kids Calendar competition
“Christmas with the Visual Arts” presentation
TSA’s annual Christmas card design contest
Visiting Visual Artists program
Veteran’s Day exhibition
Sumter’s annual Accessibility Visual Arts exhibit

Ways to Help

The Visual Arts Department is always looking for individuals to help with projects and exhibitions.  We always appreciate supplies and donations.   If you are able to help in any way, please contact us at 499-3378.