Newark Community High School Art Program

Newark Community High School Art Program Welcome to the Newark Community High School Art Program page! Stay updated on our creative projects and events throughout the year.

Congratulations to the 2026 AP Studio Art Class at NCHS on an outstanding art show! The evening was a great opportunity ...
05/16/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 AP Studio Art Class at NCHS on an outstanding art show! The evening was a great opportunity to reflect on an incredible year of creativity, growth, and hard work. The artwork on display highlighted not only the individual voices and talents of each artist, but also the strength and creativity of the class as a whole.

A special touch to the event was a cake created by one of our Drawing II students — a thoughtful “passing of the torch” gesture that symbolized the next generation of artists continuing the tradition.

I’m incredibly proud of everything this group has accomplished. Congratulations again to the entire class, and best wishes to our graduating seniors as they begin their next chapter!

Congratulations to our 2026 Advanced Placement Art students — Emma Dierzen, Hannah Severson, Jacob Seyller, Evan Sittler...
05/09/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Advanced Placement Art students — Emma Dierzen, Hannah Severson, Jacob Seyller, Evan Sittler, Sophia Solis, Kaden Stanford, Daniel Venegas, and Rylie Young — on completing their year-long portfolios for the AP Exam by the Friday deadline. This represents a tremendous accomplishment, requiring the creation of high-level artwork on a rigorous timeline in a course that began last summer.

To celebrate their achievements, the Art Department will host an open-house style art show featuring the students and the work they have produced throughout the year on Friday, May 15, from 5:30–7:00 PM in the gymnasium. Guests are welcome to arrive and stay as long as they wish.

Please note: This exhibition reflects authentic student artistic expression developed through the AP Art portfolio process. Some artwork may explore mature themes and may be best suited for viewers ages 14 and up.

2026 Art Student of the SemesterThe Visual Arts Department is proud to recognize Wren Winner as Student of the Semester....
05/08/2026

2026 Art Student of the Semester
The Visual Arts Department is proud to recognize Wren Winner as Student of the Semester. Wren was nominated for her outstanding artistic achievement, creativity, and positive presence in the classroom. Her work in ink, colored pencil, and graphite consistently exceeded expectations, demonstrating advanced technical skill, strong composition, and ambitious subject matter well beyond the high school level. Beyond her talent, Wren’s humor, energy, and contributions to classroom culture—from “Table Three” to the legendary “Purple Protest”—made her a standout member of the art program. Congratulations, Wren!

Drawing II: Dictionary Design DrawingIn Drawing II, students are challenged to create a cohesive artwork based on four w...
04/11/2026

Drawing II: Dictionary Design Drawing

In Drawing II, students are challenged to create a cohesive artwork based on four words that share the same letter. This exercise encourages students to explore creative ways of combining different visual elements into a single piece of art. By focusing on a specific set of words, students are required to think outside the box and stretch their imagination to produce an artwork that tells a story or conveys a particular emotion or message.

Through this exercise, students practice their skills in composition, color theory, and drawing techniques while also developing their ability to convey complex ideas through visual art. This exercise serves as valuable practice for students pursuing AP Studio Art (Offered in 2027-2028), where they will be challenged to produce a portfolio of artworks that demonstrates their mastery of various mediums and techniques.

Art I Class – Spring 2025 (We finally finished it!)Collaborative Relief Tile MuralStudents in Art I used slab constructi...
04/11/2026

Art I Class – Spring 2025 (We finally finished it!)
Collaborative Relief Tile Mural
Students in Art I used slab construction—flat pieces of clay—to create individual tiles based on a section of a larger image. Each student translated their assigned portion into a sculptural relief by carving away the background, a process often described as “drawing in clay.” These individual tiles were then assembled to reconstruct the full iguana image as a unified mural.

Relief sculpture is designed to be viewed from the front and exists in two primary forms: low relief (bas-relief), where forms project slightly from the surface, and high relief, where more than half of the form extends outward.

This project emphasizes 21st-century skills, including collaboration, visual communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Students worked both independently and collectively, ensuring their individual tiles aligned in scale, composition, and craftsmanship to contribute to a cohesive final piece.

An Introduction to the Art of Perspective DrawingDuring the spring semester, Art I students were introduced to two point...
04/11/2026

An Introduction to the Art of Perspective Drawing

During the spring semester, Art I students were introduced to two point perspective drawing as a way to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Artists applied mathematical concepts such as vanishing points, horizon lines, and guidelines lines to accurately construct space, proportions, and depth within their compositions. These skills connect directly to geometry and spatial reasoning, helping students understand how objects change in size and position as they recede into space.

Building on earlier shading techniques, students combined value, contrast, and form to strengthen the illusion of realism in their work. The selection of drawings shown below highlight strong attention to detail, and thoughtful use of perspective. Way to go, Art I!

AP Studio Art Drawing Portfolio update 🎨 The finish line is in sight—just two more artworks to go before these talented ...
04/03/2026

AP Studio Art Drawing Portfolio update 🎨 The finish line is in sight—just two more artworks to go before these talented artists complete their portfolios!

Art I Clay Food SculptureThe following clay sculptures were created by first-year Art students, showcasing both creativi...
04/03/2026

Art I Clay Food Sculpture
The following clay sculptures were created by first-year Art students, showcasing both creativity and technical skill. Throughout this unit, students explored how artists like Claes Oldenburg and Peter Anton have transformed everyday food into compelling works of art, examining the role of scale, texture, and visual impact in their pieces.

Inspired by these artists, Art I students designed and built their own food “sculptures” using clay. Students were assessed on their ability to use texture, demonstrate neatness while using proper handbuilding techniques. Art I students were also assessed on accuracy of color, use of color value to accent textures, color intensity to control brightness, originality, and overall presentation. Students created fantastic work, as you can see below!

Congratulations to Emma Dierzen, Rylie Young, Scarlett Hopkins, Wren Winner, Jacob Seyller, Hannah Severson, Evan Sittl...
03/14/2026

Congratulations to Emma Dierzen, Rylie Young, Scarlett Hopkins, Wren Winner, Jacob Seyller, Hannah Severson, Evan Sittler, Sophia Solis, Kaden Stanford, and Daniel Venegas for participating in the Second Annual Little Ten Arts Festival, held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Serena High School. The event featured over eighty works of art from eight high schools in the Little Ten Conference. This non-juried exhibition coincided with the Little Ten Band Festival, culminating in a fantastic afternoon band performance. Special Thank you to Mr. Ulrich, Mr. Langhoff, Ms. Kempiak (Serena), and LTC Principals for making this show possible! Stay tuned, as this event is sure to grow in the coming years! Next year’s host will be Somonauk High School.

The Invented Environments Project challenged our Drawing II students to design imaginative, original landscapes by thoug...
03/01/2026

The Invented Environments Project challenged our Drawing II students to design imaginative, original landscapes by thoughtfully combining three copyright-free images inspired by written prompts. As their first experience creating a drawing from a digitally collaged reference, they embraced the process with creativity and confidence. Using photo editing software, students carefully made compositions that demonstrated their understanding of "The Rule of Thirds" and "Focal Point" from Drawing I. They then transferred their work onto toned paper and brought their environments to life in colored pencil, skillfully rendering lighting, color relationships, and detail, to seamlessly unify their imagery. I’m incredibly proud of the growth, problem-solving, and artistic confidence they demonstrated throughout this project! Way to go, Drawing II!

Address

413 Chicago Road
Newark, IL
60541

Website

https://www.nchs18.org/artgallery/index.html

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