August/September 2022

Issue 1, Volume 1

MBIS VISUAL ARTSA NEWSLETTER OFFERING A GLIMPSE INTO THE ART ROOMSMEET THE TEACHERSREBECCACARTER
carterr@marist.ac.jp

Grade 6-10 Visual Arts
IB DP Visual Arts 11&12
Head of Arts
Hello! I am a Visual Arts Teacher, originally fromthe U.S. I am currently in my 9th year teaching atMarist, and my 12th year teaching overall. I am
looking forward to working with the students togain new skills and artistic confidence over thisschool year!

BRIAN
PETERSEN

petersenb@marist.ac.jp
Grade M-6 Visual Arts
Grade 1-6 Digital Skills

Grade 11 IB Art Students working
on artist investigation studies“Every artist was first an amateur”
Ralph Waldo Emerson"UNEXPECTED BEAUTY": GRADE 7&8
In this unit, the students looked at colored pencil drawing techniques, the importance ofcolor theory, and how to look at the world around them with fresh, creative eyes. Thestudents discussed how they define "beauty," how it is viewed in our modern world, andcompared current art to art from different times through history, looking at thesimilarities and differences. They then photographed an object or scene that showed
their individual ideas of "unexpected beauty." This was translated to a drawing, using their
newly practiced colored pencil skills. These turned out amazing!

Hello, everyone! I'm a Visual Arts teacher
and artist from Canada. This is my 14th yearof teaching but my 1st year at Marist, andI'm so excited to explore the arts with you
all! Let's have fun creating and exploringmaterials together.

OVERVIEWUPPER SCHOOL

Welcome back to Visual Arts! Since the beginning ofthe year, we have been focusing on 2D drawing
media in the Upper School classes, from Medium
Experiments and observational drawing in Grade 9& 10 to practicing colored pencil techniques in
Grade 7 & 8. The IB 11 Class has been working withdrawing refreshers and the meaning of "identity" as
it relates to visual art, while the IB 12 Class has
been working on their final exhibition pieces..

LOWER SCHOOL
Welcome back to Visual Arts! Since the beginning of
the year, we have been assessing and developing ourdrawing and rendering skills as a basis to build andcreate form in other media. Discussions around shape,line and value have happened across all grades, andsome explorations into found media sculpture havealso 'sprouted' up in Grade 2. Art isn't just in art time
though, as we are beginning to use digital media tocreate in our digital skills classes too!

August/September 2022

Issue 1, Volume 1"3 Medium Nature Drawings:" Grades 9 & 10For this project, the Grade 9 & 10 Visual Arts Class
looked at drawing and how to create shading andvalue through different drawing techniques.
Starting with graphite pencil, the students lookedat techniques to create the illusion of form. From
here, they moved to experimentation in five otherdrawing media, which allowed for trial and error,
as well as the opportunity to learn andgrow from mistakes.
For the final project, the students took their own
photographs of nature as reference photos andcreated three 5x5 square drawings in their choiceof drawing media. The final works showcase thestudents' hard work and creativity!

IBDP 12: Peer Conferences
Throughout their time in the IB Visual Arts
program, the Senior IB students have learned
the value of presenting their in-progress
artworks as well as receiving/giving peer
feedback. This practice allows for the students
to develop a comfort level with speaking about
their art, about others' art, and using artspecific language. This directly influences theirGrade 12 Exhibition IB assessment component.

Creating Conversation around Art Making

Questions to prompt conversation around the art making process

UPPER SCHOOL
1. What parts of your artwork do you feel are most effective?
2. Did your artwork turn out how you intended? Or did it take a different
direction?
3. What did you enjoy most about the process?
4. What did you learn from creating this work?
5. If you were to create this artwork again, what would you do differently?

August/September 2022

Issue 1, Volume 1

LOWER SCHOOL ART EXPLORATIONSQuestions to ask your CHILD
about their art
LOWER SCHOOL

Grade 2Can you explain what you've been making?
Tell me a bit about the decisions you make inyour art making?
What skills, tools or techniques are youusing?
What parts are you most proud of? Why?
If there's something you'd like change or
improve in your work, what could you do
differently?

Grade 2

Please Consider
Sending a Smockor Apron toSchool for artmaking!

It can be kept in thelocker for weekly use.
Montessorigrade 1

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

August/September 2022

Issue 1, Volume 1

LOWER SCHOOL ART EXPLORATIONSQuestions to ask your CHILD
about their art
LOWER SCHOOL

Grade 3

If you have Any
recycle materials

you think wecan use, pleasecontact us

Can you explain what you've been making?
Tell me a bit about the decisions you make inyour art making?
What skills, tools or techniques are youusing?
What parts are you most proud of? Why?
If there's something you'd like change or
improve in your work, what could you do
differently?

petersenb@marist.ac.jp

Grade 5

grade 5

Grade 4

grade 4

grade 6