Where gifted
young artists find
their voice
K–8 Talented Visual Artist Curriculum
This curriculum is designed for students identified as Talented in Visual Art in Grades K–8. It accelerates beyond the standard art curriculum, developing professional artistic skills, critical thinking, and cultural literacy. All units align with Louisiana Visual Arts State Standards and are appropriate for IEP goal-setting.
• Instruction is NOT a repetition of the regular art classroom — it is acceleration, enrichment, and mentorship
• Students are treated as emerging artists, not just art students
• Each unit integrates studio production, critical analysis, and art historical context
• Higher-order thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) is embedded in every lesson
• IEP goals are addressed through differentiated pacing, extended projects, and portfolio documentation
Portfolio review — ongoing documentation of growth and process
• Sketchbook checks — evidence of exploration, practice, and ideation
• Artist statements — written or verbal reflection on creative choices
• Peer and self-critique — structured use of formal vocabulary
• IEP goal progress notes — tracked by teacher and shared with school team
At this level, instruction awakens visual awareness and introduces the formal elements of art through hands-on exploration, storytelling, and imaginative play rooted in observation.
Unit 1
Seeing Like an Artist
Observational Drawing Basics
Line, shape, contour drawing; hand-eye coordination; slow
looking; gesture marks
Sketchbook of 5 contour drawings from observation (objects,
plants, hands)
Unit 2
Color and Light
Intro to Watercolor Painting
Primary/secondary colors; wet-on-wet vs. wet-on-dry; color mixing; brush control
Color-wheel painting; simple landscape from observation
Unit 3
The World in 3D
Clay Pinch and Coil Building
Hand-building, texture, form, spatial reasoning; sculptural thinking
A pinch-pot vessel with surface texture inspired by nature
Unit 4
Stories in Art
Art History for Little Learners
Identifying subject matter; reading an artwork; artists as storytellers; basic vocabulary
Response drawing inspired by a work by Matisse, Georgia OKeeffe, or Romare Bearden
Students develop technical proficiency and begin using formal art vocabulary to describe, analyze, and create work with intention. Portfolio habits are introduced.
Unit 1
Drawing with Depth
Value, Shading and Form
Value scale; cast shadows; cross-hatching; rendering 3D form on a 2D surface
Still-life drawing in pencil using full value range
Unit 2
Painting with Purpose
Acrylic Color and Composition
Color temperature, analogous/complementary schemes; compositional principles (rule of thirds, focal point)
Original acrylic painting — landscape or still life with intentional composition
Unit 3
Sculpture in the Round
Subtractive and Additive Methods
Additive clay coil/slab; subtractive carving in plaster or foam; understanding form from all angles
A freestanding sculpture of an animal or figure; artist statement
Unit 4
Reading Art
Formal Analysis and Art Movements
Elements and Principles of Design applied to famous works; Impressionism, Cubism, Realism; critical vocabulary
Written and verbal formal analysis of two contrasting artworks; visual response painting
Unit 5
The Artist Portfolio
Documentation and Reflection
Photographing artwork; self-assessment; writing artist statements; revision practice
Curated mini-portfolio of 4–6 best pieces with written reflections
Students transition from skill-building to personal expression. Instruction at this level prepares students for high school art, portfolio review, and a deeper understanding of art as a discipline and a profession.
Unit 1
The Figure and Portrait
Drawing the Human Form
Proportions of the face and figure; gesture and contour figure drawing; portraiture techniques
Portrait series: self-portrait in pencil + expressive portrait in ink or charcoal
Unit 2
Light in Paint
Oil and Acrylic Techniques
Underpainting; layering; oil blending; glazing techniques; painting light and shadow
Still-life painting in oil or acrylic demonstrating strong value structure and color harmony
Unit 3
Structure and Space
3D Form, Relief and Installation
Relief sculpture; assemblage; scale; spatial composition; mixed materials
A bas-relief or assemblage sculpture with written artist statement
Unit 4
Art as Conversation
Art History and Social Context
Art as social commentary; the Harlem Renaissance; Mexican Muralists; contemporary Louisiana artists; critique skills
Original artwork inspired by a historical movement + comparative essay or verbal critique
Unit 5
Pre-Professional Portfolio
Preparing for High School Art
Portfolio selection and presentation; digital documentation; goal-setting; artist identity
Curated 8–10 piece portfolio with artist statement; mock portfolio review session
9–12 Talented Visual Artist Curriculum
The 9–12 curriculum provides advanced, pre-professional visual arts training. Students develop a cohesive artistic voice, build college/conservatory-ready portfolios, and engage with art history at an analytical level. All work is aligned to Louisiana Visual Arts Standards and IEP goals.
Develop a distinctive, personal artistic voice supported by technical mastery
• Build a college-portfolio-ready body of work across media
• Master advanced techniques in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media
• Engage critically with art history — writing, speaking, and thinking like an art professional
• Prepare for AP Art and Design, dual enrollment, conservatory audition, or BFA application
Portfolio review each semester — evaluated on growth, risk-taking, and technical development
• Process documentation — sketchbooks, planning drawings, photo documentation of works in progress
• Artist statements — required for every major project; developed and revised over time
• Peer and teacher critique — structured using formal vocabulary and open-ended questioning
• Critical writing — formal analysis, research papers, and exhibition labels
• IEP progress documentation — shared with school team and updated each grading period
Louisiana Standards Addressed Across Both Curricula
VA-CE (Creative Expression): Students create original works using elements and principles of design with increasing technical skill and conceptual intention. VA-CA (Critical Analysis): Students analyze, interpret, and evaluate works of art using formal vocabulary and contextual understanding. VA-HP (Historical and Cultural Perspectives): Students connect art to history, culture, geography, and the work of influential artists across time. VA-AE (Aesthetic Experience): Students develop personal aesthetic judgments and articulate their responses to visual art.
All instruction accelerates beyond the standard classroom. This curriculum is not a duplication of the regular art curriculum but an enrichment, acceleration, and mentorship experience consistent with Louisiana Bulletin 1508 and the TVA program framework.
Unit 1
Advanced Drawing
The Observed and Invented World
Sustained observational drawing; mixed-media drawing; perspective (1-pt, 2-pt, atmospheric); expressive line
Series of 5 drawings: 3 observational, 2 invented/imaginative; artist statement
Unit 2
Color Mastery
Painting in Layers
Color theory at an advanced level; acrylic techniques — impasto, glazing, scumbling; surface preparation
Acrylic painting demonstrating mastery of color relationships and layering (16×20 min.)
Unit 3
Form and Concept
Sculpture as Idea
Concept-driven sculpture; maquettes and planning; hand-building and assemblage; critique language
Concept-driven sculpture with planning sketches and formal artist statement
Unit 4
Art History Survey
Ancient to Modern
Chronological survey — Ancient, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern; formal analysis; contextual reading; written critique
Comparative analysis essay (2 works from different eras) + visual response artwork
Unit 1
Drawing as a Primary Medium
Charcoal, Ink and Graphite
Material-specific mark-making; tonal drawing; large-format work; process documentation
Large-format drawing series (minimum 3 works) on a self-chosen theme
Unit 2
Oil Painting Fundamentals
Tradition and Technique
Oil paint properties; fat-over-lean; brushwork; palette knife; working from observation and reference
Oil painting still life or portrait; process journal with color studies
Unit 3
Sculpture: Material Exploration
Casting, Carving and Construction
Casting in plaster/resin; carving foam or plaster; welding-free metal construction; material exploration
Three material experiments + one resolved sculpture; critique participation
Unit 4
Modern and Contemporary Art
Meaning, Context and Critique
20th–21st century movements; post-modernism; conceptual art; contemporary Louisiana/Southern artists; written and verbal critique
Research presentation on a contemporary artist of choice + an artwork made in dialogue with their work
Unit 5
Developing a Series
Thematic Cohesion in a Body of Work
Identifying a theme/inquiry; making multiple connected works; editing and sequencing a body of work
Thematic series of 5–7 works (any medium) with full written artist statement
Unit 1
Defining Your Concentration
Artistic Identity and Direction
Identifying personal artistic interests; researching influences; establishing a concentration or sustained investigation
Written artistic inquiry statement; inspiration board; 3 preliminary works
Unit 2
Advanced Painting
Expressive and Conceptual Approaches
Combining observational and expressive approaches; mixed media on canvas; working in series
Painting series (5 works min.) aligned to concentration; artist talk to peer group
Unit 3
Sculpture: Concept-Driven Work
Installation and Site-Specific Thinking
Site-responsive work; installation concepts; scale, material choice, and viewer experience
Site-specific or installation artwork with full process documentation
Unit 4
Art History and Critical Writing
The Artist as Thinker
Writing about art at a pre-collegiate level; research skills; citing sources; connecting personal work to art history
Research paper (3–5 pages) connecting a historical movement to the student's own artistic inquiry
Unit 5
Portfolio Review Prep
Building and Editing a College Portfolio
Photographing and editing artwork images; artist statement writing; portfolio sequencing; mock review
Working draft portfolio (15–20 pieces) with documentation and statement; mock portfolio review
Unit 1
Senior Sustained Investigation
Independent Studio Project
Self-directed work across an entire semester; regular studio critiques; revision; professional documentation
Complete sustained investigation — 15+ works; process journal; final artist statement
Unit 2
Advanced Drawing and Painting
Capstone Technical Work
Synthesis of all drawing/painting skills learned; personal style; large-format and refined work
5 signature works in drawing and/or painting representing highest technical level
Unit 3
Senior Exhibition
Presenting Work Publicly
Exhibition planning; artwork installation; writing wall labels and catalog entries; public artist talk
Senior art exhibition (school, studio, or community venue) with catalog and public artist talk
Unit 4
Art World Literacy
BFA, Art School and Career Pathways
Understanding BFA programs, art schools, community college pathways; artist career models; application materials
Finalized college application portfolio; cover letter or artist statement for admissions; transition plan
School
Pull-Out
School-based
Contact for rates
IEP goal integration
- School team coordination
- 4–6 hrs/week enrichment
- K–12 all grade levels
Private Studio – Individual
School-based
Contact for rates
- One-on-one instruction
- Personalized pacing
- Portfolio development
- Progress reports
Private Studio – Small Group
Core Studios
Contact for rates
- 2–4 students per group
- Collaborative projects
- Peer critique practice
- Lower cost per student
Summer Intensive
Core Studios
Contact for rates
- Daily studio sessions
- Multi-media exploration
- Art history field trip
- End-of-week showcase
Email: corestudios@coripillows.com
Phone: (504)-323-6853