Art
Art at Jeannine Manuel School encourages students to observe the world with curiosity, think creatively and communicate ideas through visual expression. Combining technical skill with experimentation, students explore a wide range of artistic media while developing confidence in their own creative voice.
Drawing inspiration from artists, architects and designers across cultures and historical periods, students learn to look closely, take creative risks and express increasingly personal ideas through their work.
Divider Dot Path
What Students Experience
Throughout Middle School, students explore drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage and mixed media while building a strong understanding of colour, composition, perspective, texture and form.
Their work is inspired by an extraordinary range of artists and artistic traditions. From Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Banksy and Quentin Blake to Islamic geometry, Japanese Notan, Gaudí's architecture and the patterns of M.C. Escher, students discover how artists from different cultures, periods and disciplines have challenged conventions and shaped the visual world.
As they progress, students move from mastering core techniques to developing increasingly independent projects, learning how to research, experiment, refine ideas and create thoughtful personal responses.
How Students Learn
Learning is practical, exploratory and reflective. Students sketch, experiment, discuss and refine their work through an iterative creative process, developing both technical precision and the confidence to take artistic risks.
Alongside making art, students investigate the historical, cultural and social contexts that shape artistic practice. By analysing artworks, exploring different techniques and reflecting on their own creative decisions, they learn to communicate ideas visually while developing resilience, imagination and critical thinking.
Beyond the Classroom
Art extends beyond the studio through regular visits to museums, galleries and exhibitions, allowing students to encounter original works of art first-hand. From London's world-renowned collections, including the National Gallery, to international cultural visits such as the Prado Museum in Madrid, these experiences inspire creativity and deepen students' understanding of artistic movements, cultures and ideas.
Older students also benefit from our Artist in Residence Programme, which offers opportunities to engage with practising artists, gain insight into contemporary creative practice and experience the artistic process beyond the classroom.
Looking Ahead
By the end of Middle School, students have developed the technical skills, creative confidence and independent thinking needed to pursue increasingly ambitious artistic work. These foundations prepare students for the highly regarded Visual Arts course in the IB, where they continue to develop a personal artistic practice while engaging critically with art from around the world.
