STUDENT WORK
A collection of student work that progresses by grade.
In this lesson, students were introduced to the element of art line through observation, discussion, and hands-on exploration. They began by identifying and describing a variety of line types such as straight, wavy, zigzag, curly, and dotted. They also discussed how artists use line to create movement and texture. Students examined artworks by Vincent van Gogh, noting how expressive lines can convey energy and depth. For their project, students created a landscape composition by drawing rolling hills and filling each section with different types of lines. To enhance their work, students explored a science connection through the oil resist technique. The final pieces highlight both creative expression and an understanding of line as a foundational element of art.
"Linescape" Paintings
2nd Grade Artists
Watercolor, crayon, pencil
Students explored shape as an element of art along with the concept of symmetry. The lesson began with a discussion of different types of shapes, helping students identify common and uncommon shapes. They also thought about how different shapes evoke different feelings. Students were also introduced to symmetry which can be described in their words as "the same on both sides". Students used printmaking and paper cutting techniques to create symmetry. For example, they applied paint to one side of a folded paper and pressed it closed to create a symmetrical “blot” print. Next, students folded paper and cut shapes to create two of the exact same shapes, which they arranged on their painted backgrounds as beetle wings. The finished artworks demonstrate an understanding of symmetry and shape.
Symmetrical Blot Beetles
1st Grade Artists
Tempera paint, colored paper, glue, scissors, white oil pastel
Students explored color and movement through a painting project inspired by Keith Haring. Kindergarten artists learned to identify primary and secondary colors and practiced mixing their own, discovering how different amounts of paint can create a variety of shades. They also learned that darker colors are stronger and can easily take over lighter ones when mixed. Students developed fine motor skills by tracing Haring-inspired figure stencils and bringing them to life with bold color. This lesson also introduced painting etiquette, including how to properly hold and clean brushes, use appropriate amounts of paint and water, share materials respectfully, and keep their workspace neat and organized.
Keith Haring Color Exploration
Kindergarten Artists
Tempera paint, stencils, pencil, sharpie
Students explored pattern, symmetry, and design through a printmaking project inspired by traditional Moroccan tiles. Using geometric shapes, students created detailed tile compositions and transformed their drawings into printing plates, allowing them to reproduce their designs multiple times with increasing control and precision.
A strong social-emotional learning component encouraged students to embrace the learning curve, recognizing that prints are rarely perfect and that growth comes through practice and persistence. Over three sessions, students worked toward creating a set of consistent, high-quality prints, developing skills in problem-solving, observation, and refining techniques once successful methods were discovered.
Printmaking Moroccan Mirrors
2nd Grade Artists
Crayola markers, spray bottles, foam sheets, pencil, pen, aluminum sheets
Students explored texture through a mixed-media still life inspired by hydrangeas arranged in vases. Using unconventional painting techniques such as bubble art, students created the clustered texture of the flowers and combined them with carefully cut, symmetrical vase shapes. Students were encouraged to make creative choices in color, composition, and design, while also building on previously learned cutting skills. Oil pastels were used to enhance details and introduce value, helping students understand how different shades can create a sense of depth and make their work appear more three-dimensional.
Bubble Painting Hydrangeas
1st Grade Artists
Bubble paint mix, straws, oil pastel, scissors, glue, colored paper
Realistic Blowpop Drawing
Students combined technical skill with conceptual thinking by creating realistic colored pencil drawings of Blow Pop lollipops taped to boards- a playful nod to Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual artwork “The Comedian”, in which a banana taped to a wall famously sold for $6.2 million. Students explored the provocative question, “What is art?”, reflecting on the boundaries and definitions of contemporary art. Using photographs they staged of the lollipops, students learned how to work from reference images, apply color theory, and develop form through careful layering, blending, and rendering of colored pencil. The final works showcased their ability to capture three-dimensional realism in a two-dimensional medium.
9th Grade Artists
Colored pencil on paper
Students examined the role of art as a powerful tool for raising awareness about global issues. After analyzing contemporary artworks that address topics like climate change and pollution, students reflected on the impact artists can have in promoting change. Each student was assigned an endangered animal to research and began by designing a tile on paper, focusing on composition, symbolism, and message. These designs were then transferred onto clay, glazed, and assembled into a collaborative mural. The final piece served as a visual call to action, highlighting the urgent need to protect endangered species and the environment.
Endangered Animal Tile Mural
5th Grade Artists
White stoneware clay and glaze
Mixed Media Ming Vases
1st Grade Artists
Pencil, marker, and acrylic paint on colored paper
Students explored the traditions of the Ming Dynasty by designing and illustrating their own vases inspired by the iconic blue and white porcelain of that era. They incorporated imagery of snakes into their vases to honor and celebrate the Lunar New Year, a holiday deeply significant in Chinese culture. By blending traditional Chinese design motifs with their own personal artistic vision, students created unique and symbolic works of art that reflected both historical influences and individual creativity. Throughout the process, students looked at real examples of blue and white porcelain, studying the intricate patterns and cultural symbolism found in these pieces. Additionally, discussions about the Lunar New Year provided an opportunity to explore the holiday's customs and meanings, reinforcing the importance of cultural appreciation in the art-making process.
Spirit Animal Pinch Pots - Visiting Native American Artist
K - 2nd Grade Artists
Red earthenware clay and glaze
With the help and inspiration from visiting Native American artist Tony Valderrama, students explored traditional pottery techniques by creating pinch pots inspired by their chosen spirit animals. This project deepened their understanding of how art connects to identity, nature, and cultural heritage. Valderrama shared insights on the symbolism of spirit animals and the role of pottery in Native traditions, helping students see their work as both personal expression and a reflection of history. Additionally, they considered the origins of earthenware clay, fostering awareness of sustainability in art. Through this hands-on experience, students gained technical skills while engaging in meaningful discussions about artists' connections to the Earth.
Hibernating Animal Burrow Systems - Printmaking
2nd Grade Artists
Ink on paper with collage elements and oil pastel
Students explored the historical importance of printmaking as well as its potential as an artistic process. Before engaging in printing, students considered life before printmaking- How were books made? How did we spread ideas and information? By reflecting on these questions, students gained insight into the transformative impact of printmaking on literacy, communication, and artistic production. To celebrate the coming of spring and the waking of hibernating species, students worked in groups of four and designed unique ecosystems with different burrowing animals. They drew their chosen animal and then created a relief print by making indentations into foam sheets, inking the "plate", and registering onto paper. Students not only developed technical skills in printmaking, but also deepened their understanding of collaboration, composition, and visual storytelling.
Students explored watercolor techniques while creating winter landscapes inspired by local birch trees found on Long Island. Students learned about warm and cool color families, using them to create contrast and atmosphere within their compositions. Using masking tape as an unconventional tool, students built layered paintings and revealed crisp white forms by removing the tape, discovering how unexpected materials can create unique effects. This project emphasized experimentation, observation of the local environment, and thoughtful use of color.
Birch Tree Watercolor Landscapes
1st Grade Artists
Oil pastel, watercolor paint & paper, tape
Students explored printmaking and repetition through a project inspired by Andy Warhol. Students examined the Pop Art movement and its focus on everyday objects. For example: soup cans, Coke bottles, food items, household items like soap dishes, and commercial products like shoes or lipstick. Students also learned about the significance of printmaking in both art history and the wider world, particularly its impact on communication and literacy. Students created a completed composition by combining their own original flower designs with the iconic Campbell's soup cans. They created foam printing plates and produced multiple prints, experimenting with color and repetition. This project encouraged creativity while reinforcing an understanding of how artists can transform ordinary objects into meaningful works of art.
Andy Warhol Inspired Bouquets
2nd Grade Artists
Markers, colored paper, oil pastels, foam sheets, printmaking ink, scissors, glue
Students explored balance, precision, and composition through a project inspired by Piet Mondrian. After learning about his impact on modern art, students used rulers to create geometric grid-based paintings, focusing on clean lines and careful craftsmanship.
This project also connected to math, as students measured and constructed shapes while developing an understanding of proportion, spatial relationships, and the importance of working thoughtfully and with attention to detail.
Piet Mondrian Precision Paintings
3rd Grade Artists
Acrylic paint, white & black paper
Students explored personal and cultural identity through the lens of food. Each student selected a food that held personal significance -reflecting their heritage, traditions, or lifestyle- and recreated it using layered paper collage techniques such as cutting, tearing, poking, and folding to mimic texture and form. Students enhanced their collages with colored pencil details to add depth and highlights. The completed artworks were paired with recipes and compiled into a collaborative class cookbook, celebrating the diverse backgrounds and stories within the classroom.
Paper Collage Cookbook
4th Grade Artists
Colored paper, glue, colored pencils
Students explored form and structure through a clay sculpture project inspired by the Fire Island Lighthouse, connecting their artwork to a meaningful local landmark. This project reinforced the importance of local geography and helped students develop a deeper appreciation for the unique environment that surrounds their community. In addition to building three-dimensional forms, students discussed the symbolism of a lighthouse as a guiding light, representing safety, hope, and direction. By transforming their sculptures into functional lamps, students created artworks that not only reflected their understanding of form, but also carried personal and symbolic meaning.
Ceramic Lighthouse Lamps
4th Grade Artists
White earthenware clay, glaze
This lesson was designed for a college level advertising class. Students created custom action figure mockups of themselves, complete with personalized blister packaging. The 2D packaging design featured imagery that reflected each student’s identity, highlighting career aspirations, personal interests, or unique traits which turned self-representation into a marketable product. Students explored key advertising and design principles, including visual hierarchy, composition, typography, and color theory. Once the packaging was complete, each student’s action figure was converted into a 3D object and printed. The final product is a fully designed clamshell blister package.
12th Grade Artists
Plastic, illustration board, 3D filament
Mini Me Action Figures
(Figures are being painted currently!)
Rubik's Cube Mural
In this collaborative installation, 20 students worked together to create a large-scale mural of the school’s cougar logo using 380 Rubik’s Cubes. The image was carefully mapped and gridded so students could solve and orient each cube to match a specific segment of the overall design. This project not only celebrated problem-solving, pattern recognition, and teamwork, but also challenged traditional notions of artmaking by using an unconventional medium. Unveiled as a surprise for school administration, the mural will be permanently displayed in the building’s lobby near the art wing. It serves as a reminder that art can be anything and is within everything we do!
9th Grade Artists
Rubik's cubes, wood, paint, plexiglass
