Visual Arts

Where color and form are cultivated and young artists hone their creative craft.

Art Education that Inspires

At CHCA, visual art is more than a class. It invites students to explore ideas, reflect on their experiences, and express their identity.

Each stage of our program refines skill and builds confidence, helping artists grow as creative thinkers. Our educators are practicing and professional artists who encourage learners to hone their craft and discover how to express their ideas visually.

Visual Arts

Hone your gifts or try something you’ve never done before. Whether at the easel, in the studio, or behind the lens, CHCA’s visual arts programs are a big part of life here — helping you find your people, your passions, and new ways to bring your God-given creativity to life.

Upper School students dive deep into media, concept development, and personal style. Through studio classes and advanced electives, artists refine their style while building a strong portfolio.

Each year, the culminating AP Gallery spotlights work from our most advanced artists. Held in a professional exhibit space, the show invites the CHCA community to engage with these students’ creativity, vision, and personal voice.

Curricular Offerings

AP 2D Art
AP 3D Art
AP Art Studio
Ceramics
Digital Illustration
Drawing & Painting
Stained Glass
Film Production
Photography

Foundational Courses
Art 07/08, Art Fundamentals, and Drawing & Painting introduce students to the core elements of art and design, building the technical skill and aesthetic awareness that every CHCA artist grows from.

Drawing & Painting
Drawing II and Painting II invite students to work at a larger scale and with greater conceptual depth, exploring mixed media, texture, and personal style through advanced studio work.

Ceramics & Stained Glass
Ceramics, Stained Glass Art, and Stained Glass II guide students through hand-building, wheel-throwing, and glasswork techniques — culminating in functional and permanent pieces for CHCA’s campus.

Digital & Media Arts
Digital Illustration, Digital Illustration II, Photography, and Film Production immerse students in modern tools and storytelling, from Procreate and Adobe Creative Cloud to 35mm film and live event video.

Specialty Electives
The Art of Repurposing challenges students to create original work from upcycled materials, blending creativity with sustainability and hands-on problem-solving.

AP Art Studio
CHCA’s most advanced artists build a college-level portfolio, applying discipline, integrity, and craftsmanship to a body of work that reflects both skill and faith.

Lower School artists develop technique and begin to understand art as a powerful form of communication. In studying different mediums and artists, students gain both confidence and joy in their creations.

Curricular Offerings

Kindergarten
Young artists learn to use and care for art tools while exploring drawing, painting, weaving, printmaking, and ceramics for the first time. Projects connect to Bible stories and classroom learning, introducing students to art history and the language of art.

Grade 1
Students continue building foundational skills across drawing, painting, weaving, printmaking, and ceramics, working with an expanding range of materials. Projects integrate with literature and science, deepening both technique and understanding.

Grade 2
With more advanced tools and techniques, second graders take on more complex 2D and 3D projects. Art history comes into sharper focus through the study of well-known artists, past and present, while projects connect to Bible stories and language arts.

Grade 3
Students refine their skills through more advanced 2D and 3D work, exploring an even wider range of materials. Continued study of drawing, painting, weaving, printmaking, and ceramics builds toward stronger technical confidence.

Grades 4–6
Students explore the distinct styles of historical and contemporary artists through hands-on experimentation with drawing, sculpture, fiber arts, printmaking, mixed media, and painting. By studying the techniques behind the artists they admire, students refine their own skills and begin creating original works with growing confidence.

Young artists explore color, shape, and storytelling through hands-on projects that build fine motor skills and creative confidence. Art is integrated into daily curriculum, encouraging curiosity and discovery.

Curricular Offerings

Each morning, students enjoy creative time in the Atelier, exploring art and a variety of mediums to express their ideas, grow in fine motor skills, and extend the learning happening in their classrooms. Through hands-on practice with different materials, techniques, and processes, young artists build an early awareness of the world God made — and the tools and care it takes to create in it.