The goal of the ATS art program is to provide a variety of quality visual art programming for students. This goal is based on the belief that art is the universal language of humanity and should be a basic element of each child’s education. A broad education that includes the arts guides children to a deeper understanding of their world and open windows to different cultures. Art teaches children to think creatively. Creating art increases children’s self-esteem and self-discipline and it challenges them to appreciate other points of view as well as experience beauty and joy. It is important that children have well-rounded experiences in art designed to develop eye/hand coordination skills and to learn and practice traditional art forms. Art balances children’s understanding that art is a communicating historical document with opportunities for children to express themselves creatively. The ATS art program has strong multicultural and interdisciplinary connections.

The students study the color wheel. Specific projects are designed to help students solve common problems and experience concepts of color theory in action. Students use oil pastels, tempera, acrylics and watercolors to produce paintings. Projects are differentiated. Students can simply explore color or experiment with abstraction. Students try using a wide range of techniques, both abstract and realistic. They paint simple themes, single flowers, complicated landscapes, and detailed animals or portraits. At the primary level, students begin creating with thumbprints or “found” objects. As they grow, they move to demonstrating sophisticated relief printing such as embossed prints, collage prints, monotype, monoprint, and relief prints, stencils, stamping. Students are expected to make artistic decisions related to color, design and composition.

When students work with clay and learn glazing techniques, they explore several methods. Intermediate students explore sculpture using wood, Styrofoam and clay. Advanced students create sculptures with wire and craft a personal project using found objects.

Students learn art history through lessons about artists and their works as well as art games. These artists are introduced in lessons: Claude Monet, Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and others. Kindergarten, third and fifth graders make an annual field trip to a museum.  Students also visit famous galleries online by virtual field trip.