Art

Visual Arts Education at HNJ

Building creativity, confidence, self-expression, and a love of the arts

At Holy Name of Jesus, Visual Arts Education for students in grades K–7 is designed to nurture creativity, promote self-expression, and build foundational artistic skills. Through a standards-based, hands-on curriculum, students explore a wide variety of media and techniques while developing their own artistic voices.

Early Childhood

• Kindergarten (Exploring Materials & Movement): Students build fine motor skills and creative confidence through guided exploration of art tools and materials. Cutting, gluing, drawing, and painting introduce basic artistic concepts such as color, shape, and texture, while promoting hand-eye coordination and imaginative thinking.

• 1st Grade (Tools & Textures): Students deepen their exploration of media including markers, pastels, and watercolors. They learn to layer, blend, and assemble, using glue and scissors with increased precision. Projects focus on observation, pattern, and expressive use of line and color

• 2nd Grade (Color & Composition): With growing control over materials, students begin to compose more detailed works. They explore warm vs. cool colors, overlapping shapes, and visual storytelling through both individual and collaborative pieces

• 3rd Grade (Mediums & Meaning): Students experiment with a wider range of media, including paint, clay, and textiles, while learning about the elements of art and principles of design. Projects encourage thoughtful decision-making and creative risk-taking

• 4th Grade (Art Across Disciplines): Students create cross-curricular artworks, such as Greek theater masks that connect to their theater studies. Focus is placed on symbolism, emotion in design, and the role of art in culture and communication.

Middle School

• 5th Grade (Techniques & Traditions): Students refine techniques in drawing, painting, and sculpture. They explore figure drawing, acrylic mixing, and clay sculpting, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and personal expression

• 6th Grade (Perspective & Personal Voice): Students are introduced to perspective drawing, advanced shading, and mixed-media compositions. Lessons emphasize composition, mood, and visual storytelling as students begin to find their unique visual style

• 7th Grade (Mastery & Meaning): Students synthesize skills through complex projects like multi-layered paintings, sculptural pieces, and collaborative murals. They apply design thinking to create works that communicate ideas, feelings, and cultural themes.

Middle School Electives

Students interested in deepening their artistic practice may choose from a variety of elective offerings, including:

• Sketching & Illustration

• Sculpting & Ceramics

• 3D Printing & Digital Art

• Linoleum Block Printing

• Screen Printing & Wearable Art

• Set & Prop Design (in collaboration with Theatre)

• Art History & Critique

The HNJ Art Experience

HNJ’s Art Program empowers students to take creative risks, build artistic skills, and express themselves visually. Whether experimenting with materials or developing a personal style, every student is encouraged to see the world through an artistic lens—and to leave their unique mark on it.