Visual Arts
Visual Arts at Sage Ridge School offers a comprehensive and dynamic program for students in grades 3-12, focusing on professional practices used in the art world and teaching students to be creative problem-solvers.
From foundational skills to advanced techniques, the program nurtures the whole child, emphasizing individual talent and teaching students how to translate their unique perspectives into their work. Through engaging projects and thoughtful instruction, students develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, which foster personal expression and artistic growth. Our Visual Arts instructors teach students to be courageous and curious citizens who feel they can tackle any challenge that life brings.
Grades 3-5
In the Lower School, Sage Ridge students develop a strong foundation in visual art by exploring both the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design and applying these concepts to their own creative work. They begin by experimenting with various art materials and techniques, learning best practices along the way. Scorpions study color theory, the emotional impact of colors, and the basic illusion of depth in two-dimensional works such as painting, drawing and printmaking. Students also investigate art history from Prehistoric to Baroque periods and engage in three-dimensional art forms like sculpture and ceramics. Sage Ridge students expand their understanding by focusing on art as a language of self-expression. They investigate realism through still-life artwork and painting techniques while learning about movements from Impressionism to Expressionism.
Grades 6-8
In Middle School, students deepen their understanding of art by exploring creative risk-taking, historical influences, and personal expression. They meet the “rule breakers” of art history, covering movements from Cubism through Abstract Expressionism. As students examine a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media—including drawing, painting, printmaking, papier-mâché, clay, mixed media, and collage—students develop their creative problem-solving skills while reinforcing their knowledge of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Students then take their artistic exploration further to focus on art as a visual language for self-expression. Students are encouraged to experiment, innovate and refine their creative interests while learning how to properly label and prepare their work for formal exhibition. Our Middle School students have the confidence needed to communicate their thoughts, interests and beliefs through diverse mediums.
Grades 9-12
In the Upper School, students delve deeper into their artistic pursuits through specialized courses such as Art Foundations, Media Arts, Studio Art Mash Up, Studio Art, Ceramics and Sculpture, and AP Studio Art I and II.
Advanced students gain real-world experience by curating and marketing their work, with opportunities to exhibit professionally at prestigious venues like the Nevada Museum of Art, the University of Nevada Reno’s Sheppard Contemporary Gallery, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, McKinley Art Center, Reno-Tahoe International Art Show, City of Reno, local libraries, and the E.L. Wiegand Student Activity Center.
Sage Ridge visual arts students consistently excel, earning accolades in state and national art competitions, solidifying the program’s reputation for excellence.