Welcome to the ART website at Shalom Christian Academy...

I'm Mrs. Ginny Miller, teacher of all kindergarten through high school art classes.

I began teaching Art at Shalom in 2003.  Prior to this, I taught at the Growing Tree Preschool.  I enjoy drawing, painting, scrapbooking, landscaping, and just about anything else you can think of that's creative.  I am doing my best to nurture creativity in my students by encouraging them to "think outside of the box."  An individual learns early in life to value their own unique ideas by taking risks. I like to reward creativity with lots of positive affirmation.

I am originally from Goshen, IN.  I attended both Hesston College in Hesston, KS and Goshen College in Goshen, IN and graduated with a BA in Art. I live in Chambersburg with my husband Ray, who works for Linden Showalter, CPA in Waynesboro. My two children, James & Monica attend Shalom.

I am working to raise the standard of expectation and achievement in the arts at Shalom. Art should be fun, creative, and expressive, but there are also important skills to learn. Drawing is a fundamental skill that begins with observation. The eyes are the most important tool of an artist. I am training students to observe the world around them more closely. God has made a wonderful world for us to enjoy.

Art is required for all middle school grades, and is offered as an additional elective in the 8th grade (so 8th graders can have art two periods per week). Drawing (portraits, cartoons, animals & perspective landscapes), watercolor, pastels, charcoal, ink, calligraphy, printing, collage, and clay sculpture are all part of the middle school curriculum.

The high school art program at Shalom is growing to include an art studio class.  Students must complete one year of drawing, painting, or sculpture to enroll in this class.  Students will be able to focus on their area of specialty in this class.  I will work with students to set individual goals and projects to achieve. These students are given more freedom to work independently with guidance.
Drawing, painting, and sculpture are offered to all high school students.  

New in 2007 is the addition of pottery wheels which has opened up a whole new area of sculpture for us to enjoy.  8th grade advanced art students and high school sculpture students are allowed extensive use of the wheels, and are learning how to use glazes, and learning about the firing process.  Sculpture students also work individually with wire, paper casting, and carving plaster/vermiculite.  As a small group, students work with packing tape to cast and assemble a full figure sculpture.  The figures can be filled with packing material, newspaper, etc. and dressed with a theme.

High school drawing classes focus on observation drawing, although fantasy and imagination are often used to make the composition more interesting.  Achieving three dimensional form in drawing requires understanding of light and shadow.  Students learn to use value contrast to improve form, space, depth, balance, rhythm, mood, texture and interest in their artwork.  They have many opportunities to express original ideas in their drawing.

Painting students learn the importance of establishing a light source.  The first project is a black and white acrylic painting to help them focus on establishing value contrast.  Oil painting and acrylic painting techniques are introduced.  Students may then choose to purchase acrylic or oil paints to use in the class.   Students will learn to apply paint to the canvas in a number of different ways to achieve desired textures.  Students work from still life arrangements and photographs.  Students are encouraged to experiment with different styles.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through the Shalom office.

Mrs. Ginny Miller