School Curriculum

Visual Arts

"Why should you think that beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world, lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer-by to pick up idly? Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of the chaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it is not given to all to know. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure of the artist. It is a melody that sings to you, and to hear it again in your own heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination." W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919 (Chapter XIX, spoken by the character Dirk Stroeve)

  • 2 Dimensional Art+

    This studio course introduces students to processes such as design, drawing, printmaking and painting on two-dimensional surfaces. Young artists actively engage in hands-on design assignments that encourage experimentation and creativity. While enjoying the less structured environment of the art studio, students investigate elements such as line, shape, color, value and form through a variety of mediums. The work of contemporary artists, the vocabulary of art, and tools commonly found in art studios are introduced and integrated into the curriculum. This course strengthens fine-motor ability, increases risk-taking opportunities and builds students’ confidence as they learn to work and think creatively.

  • 3 Dimensional Art+

    This studio course introduces students to the fundamentals of sculpture with hands-on projects created within a less structured and experimental environment of the art studio. Students are encouraged to be creative risk-takers as they design, craft and construct, often drawing inspiration from ancient and contemporary art. Using elements such as mass, space, line and texture, and a variety of building techniques and materials, students work on a range of short-term exercises and in-depth projects. As students learn to carve, cast and assemble, using everything from paper-mache to plaster, they strengthen fine-motor ability and gain a better understanding of three-dimensional design. In this course, experimentation is encouraged and celebrated, and lays a strong foundation for future visual arts classes.

  • Digital Art 6+

    Digital Art 6 provides students a brief introduction to Adobe Photoshop, Animate and Fresco. Students learn to use the software programs through step-by-step and open-ended lessons. Drawing inspiration from historical and contemporary artists, students create their own imaginative and personal design-oriented projects. Students are encouraged to be self-expressive and to problem-solve as they tinker with artistic possibilities. This course lays a solid foundation for future art courses and increases an understanding of the principles of design as students work experimentally and creatively with modern technology.

  • Digital Art 7+

    In Digital Art 7, each student explores the world of digital art and photography with the use of a camera and computer. Students utilize Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Animate and Fresco. These programs are introduced with step-by-step instruction, followed by a discovery period where students work independently or collaboratively as a team. Students gain experience in digital drawing, design elements, composition and foundation-level digital art skills. Students are asked to work experimentally and creatively as they build a digital portfolio using modern technology.

  • Mixed Media Art 7+

    This seventh-grade semester-long visual arts course introduces students to self-expression and modern media. Students perform exercises and projects in two- and three-dimensional arenas through processes such as drawing, graphic design, photography, photo manipulation, printmaking and sculpture. In addition to exploring the elements and principles of art, projects also use text and found images for visual storytelling. This class aims to spark interest and imagination, develop creative problem solvers and produce self-directed, resilient learners.

  • Studio Art 7+

    This seventh-grade semester-long visual arts course introduces students to portraiture through exercises and projects in two- and three-dimensional arenas. Students explore a variety of processes and mediums such as observational drawing, graphic design, printmaking and sculpture. Projects explore line, value, space, volume, texture, pattern, shape, color and visual balance. The goal is to spark interest, develop creative problem solvers, and produce self-directed, resilient learners.

  • 3-Dimensional Studio Art 8

    Welcome to 3D Studio, a hands-on creative space where students transform ideas and materials into sculptures as well as design objects intended for use! This course introduces the fundamental principles of sculpture through the lens of both fine art and practical invention. A major focus of the class is sustainable design; students will learn to see the “artistic potential in everyday items” by repurposing recycled and found materials into complex structures. Throughout the year, students will experiment with a diverse range of mediums, such as cardboard, paper, wire, wood, and plaster, while mastering both additive and subtractive construction techniques. By exploring the intersection of form and function, students will bridge the gap between aesthetic beauty and everyday utility.

  • Digital Art 8

    Students who take Digital Art 8 will explore Adobe Photoshop, Fresco, After Effects and Premiere Pro.Students create projects that are flexible and allow for personal and individual creative freedom after step-by-step instructions on basic tools of each program.  Students gain experience in the following areas: computer-based artwork, digital photography, motion graphics, video, and digital storytelling. As the academic year progresses, Eighth Grade Digital Arts students will gradually develop more advanced conceptual thinking with longer-form projects. 

  • Introduction to Photography 8

    This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of photography while encouraging them to explore and interpret the world through a creative lens. Students learn essential aesthetic principles such as composition, light, and exposure, and develop technical skills by working with shutter speed, aperture, and camera controls to achieve intentional visual results. Instruction includes the proper use of cameras, tripods, and other photographic equipment, as well as digital editing and enhancement using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Through hands-on projects and critiques, students develop an appreciation for photography as a powerful form of visual and artistic expression, while building a portfolio of their work. Throughout the course, strong emphasis is placed on experimentation, creative risk-taking, and exploration, encouraging students to try new techniques, explore multiple approaches, and develop their own visual voice.

Department Faculty

  • Photo of Matthew Stock
    Matt Stock
    Visual Arts Department Chair
    University of Miami - B.S.
    Savannah College of Art and Design - M.F.A.
  • Photo of Astrid Dalins
    Astrid Dalins
    Visual Arts Teacher
    University of Alabama - B.A.
    University of Miami - M.F.A.
    Trinity Evangelical Divinity School - M.A.R.
  • Photo of Marisa Fort
    Marisa Fort '98
    Visual Arts Teacher
    Barnard College - B.A.
    Harvard University - M.Arch.
  • Photo of Ellen Grant
    Ellen Grant
    Visual Arts Teacher
    University of New Hampshire - B.F.A.
    City University of New York - M.F.A.
  • Photo of Jorge Guzman
    Jorge Guzman
    Senior Class Sponsor, Visual Arts Teacher
    University of Florida - B.F.A.
    Florida International University - M.S.
  • Photo of Constance Hyde
    Connie Hyde
    Visual Arts Teacher
    Miami University - B.F.A.
    University of Miami - M.F.A.
  • Photo of Quincy Knowles
    Quincy Knowles
    Administrative Arts Department Chair, Performing Arts Teacher
    Florida Atlantic University - B.M.
  • Photo of Nicole Mijares
    Nicole Mijares
    Library Assistant, Visual Arts Teacher
    Miami Dade College - A.A.
    University of Florida - B.F.A.
  • Photo of Elsa Munoz
    Elsa Munoz
    Visual Arts Teacher
    Florida International University - B.A.
    Florida International University - M.A.
  • Photo of Alexander Rodriguez
    Alex Rodriguez
    English Teacher, Visual Arts Teacher
    Florida International University - B.A.
  • Photo of Smita Sen
    Smita Sen
    Visual Arts Teacher
    Columbia University - B.A.
  • Photo of Daniel Varela
    Danny Varela
    Visual Arts Teacher (part-time)
    Florida State University - B.A.

Select a School Level and Department

Middle School

2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 250 6850

Upper School

3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 460 8800

Accreditations and Memberships

FCIS | SAIS | NAIS | NACAC | SACAC | ACCIS |
College Board | CSEE | INDEX | One Schoolhouse
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.