Art is offered at Southfield from Kindergarten through eighth grade with a certified art specialist. First through fourth grade students have one 50 minute art session per week.

Lower school students continue devloping their use of manipulative skills in creating art. The principles of design and elements of art are introduced and reinforced throughout each grade level in completing projects and in studying works of art. Historical and cultural art assignments are used to integrate and expand the art lesson into the regular classroom curriculum. Student work is submitted in a number of local and regional art contests and student artists are recognized at school assemblies throughout the year.

Art vocabulary is introduced and reinforced throughout each grade level. The students are encouraged to use the proper terminology for art tools and methods in their daily assignments.

Drawing skills are reinforced throughout the grade levels according to the student’s developmental abilities. A variety of media are introduced and utilized in drawing, painting, printmaking, and three-dimensional work. Care and knowledge of materials are developed and reinforced at each grade level.

Art projects are introduced individually to provide opportunities for problem-solving and critical thinking. Books, slides, and historical references are used to provide background information in the development of projects. Contemporary and student-produced examples are often used to provide a basis for understanding artists and their work and as inspiration for students. Contemporary art and historical references are used in projects to encourage students to overcome preconceptions, to extend the lesson beyond the classroom and to approach problem-solving from objective and subjective points of view.

Project themes are selected to correlate with the regular classroom curriculum, seasonal art, and to introduce or reinforce a particular art technique.

All grades are introduced to various media; such as paints (tempera, watercolor, acrylic), clay, sculptural materials, various papers (watercolor, drawing, rice, origami, construction), drawing media (pencil, pen, conte, pastellos, charcoal), and printmaking materials (linoleum, styrofoam, collograph, natural objects), and collage. Students learn the proper terminology for art tools and techniques and use this vocabulary in their daily studio work and are taught proper care and use of art materials.