Art of Life

What We’ll Explore

• Origins of Art & Early Civilizations

  • Students explore how early people used art to tell stories, record life, and communicate ideas through symbols, images, and simple materials.

• Civilizations in Bloom

  • Students discover how growing societies expressed culture, daily life, and shared values through pattern, design, and visual storytelling.

• The Natural World

  • Students practice careful observation of plants, animals, and natural forms, learning how artists and scientists both study and learn from nature.

• Innovation & the Modern World

  • Students explore how new tools, inventions, and changing ways of life influence art, design, and creative problem-solving.

• Place, Space & Design

  • Students examine how humans shape their environments through buildings and designed spaces, and how those spaces shape the way we live and gather.

 

​Levels

Art of Life – Studio I (Ages 8–12)

Meets Fridays 9:30-12:00

Younger students build foundational art skills and learn to observe closely and create with confidence.

 

​Art of Life – Studio II (Ages 13–17)

Meets Fridays 1:30-4:00

Older students develop stronger technique, explore meaning and symbolism, and create more in depth, project-based work.

 

​​​How Art of Life works:

Art of Life meets weekly as an immersive studio class where students explore how art connects to history, nature, storytelling, design, and the way the world is built. Each class is organized around two connected parts:

 

Big Idea + Visual Inspiration
Students are introduced to a theme through images, short stories, discussion, and real examples from art, history, science, and design. They learn how artists, builders, inventors, and storytellers across time have used visual thinking to communicate, solve problems, and make meaning.

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Studio Workshop
Students then spend extended time creating. They draw, paint, design, build, and experiment with materials, using the theme as a springboard for hands‑on projects. Work may include observational drawing, symbolic art, nature studies, design challenges, model‑building, and visual storytelling.

By pairing big ideas with serious studio time, Art of Life helps students see art as both a skill to develop and a way to understand and shape the world.

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Who This Class Is For

Art of Life is a great fit for students who:

• enjoy drawing, building, and creating with their hands

• are curious about history, nature, and how things are designed

• like learning through projects rather than only worksheets or lectures

• want to grow in skill, creativity, and confidence

 

This class works well for both beginners and more experienced young artists. It supports visual learners, hands‑on learners, and students who like to see how school subjects connect in real and meaningful ways.

 

​Registration

​Priority registration for current Verve families opens soon! General registration will begin March 2nd, 2026. A registration fee of $75 per student secures your spot in the class for the year and the student art kit. Charter funds may not be used for registration fees. Verve is a vendor with Lake View, Feather River, South Sutter, and Core Butte Charter Schools.