Meet our Visual Arts faculty!
Terra Henderson
Visual Arts Teacher
Terra Henderson
Visual Arts Teacher | St. Peter | National Art Honor Society, Art Club
I have taught at St. James Academy since its second year in operation (2006) and taught before that for nine years at Maur Hill–Mount Academy, formerly known as Maur Hill Preparatory School in Atchison, Kansas. I teach all art mediums including drawing, painting, ceramics, a little printmaking and some sculpture, but my favorite is is teaching those with no artistic skill at all in drawing, because I, too, drew stick people before I came to discover that drawing is a LEARNABLE skill through the book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. It was because of this book that I became a high school art teacher rather than an elementary school teacher, which is what I’d wanted to be since 1st grade.
My husband, Cameron, and I were married in 2004 and we have two sons. Mason and Caden both attended Sacred Heart in Shawnee, where we are parishioners, and then will both attend high school here at St. James Academy.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Education
Emporia State University: BSE Bachelor of Science in Education
Emporia State University: Master of Science
Sherri Denton
Art Teacher
Sherri Denton
Art Teacher
Jeannie Nunn
Sewing Teacher
Jeannie Nunn
Sewing Teacher | Peter | Sewing Club
I am married and have two children. My daughter and son-in-law both work at St. James and are the parents of my grandsons. My son lives in Olathe. Working at St.James Academy is a blessing. The position of Thunder Sewing Teacher combines my love of sewing and my love of teaching.
"Don't let your ego drive your decisions."
Education
Washburn University: Education
Baker University: MA Education
National art honor society
The purpose of the chapter shall be to:
A. Inspire and recognize those students who have shown outstanding ability in art;
B. Foster excellence and a dedicated spirit to the pursuit of art;
C. Further creative abilities and talents of the Society’s members, as well as the school’s entire student art enrollment;
D. Aid members in working toward the attainment of their highest potential in an art area;
E. Bring art to the attention of the school and community;
F. Increase an awareness of art in relation to other areas of the school curriculum; and
G. Further aesthetic awareness in all aspects of the school’s total program.
Two service type projects that we do yearly in the National Art Honor Society are Memory Projects and Clay Crosses for Catholic Charities.
Memory Projects: The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, and extreme poverty.
Clay Cross Project: We make small artistic crosses out of clay and paint them. We have partnered with Catholic Charities, who put these crosses in various bags of food or along with the services that they provide.
Other Projects: We participate in are: painting shoes or ornaments for groups to sell, face painting for ballgames or birthday parties and art competitions
Classes offered
Intro to Drawing
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is an introductory course designed for students who are interested in learning basic drawing skills. They will be presented with the tools necessary to unlock their potential and to develop the way they see objects. They will learn to draw highly recognizable images of any subject matter through the perception of edges, spaces, relationships, lights and shadows, and the perception of the whole. The final project is a realistic portrait drawing.
Advanced Drawing
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students will continue to develop and refine perceptual abilities through the use of line, proportion, and shading in various drawing media, such as charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, colored pencil, etc. They will also explore a variety of subject matter, including portraits, perspective, still life and landscape. Work will be done from both photos and real life.
Advanced Art
Grades: 10, 11, 12
This is an advanced level course for students wishing to continue growth in art. After an overview is taken, the instructor will select a number of projects that will be required before allowing the students to advance in their own directions. Students will contract with the instructor regarding what types of projects he/she will do. Students who are pursuing art as a career will use this class to develop his/her portfolio. It is expected that these students are motivated in art and are inspired to create.
Painting
Grades: 10, 11, 12
This course will explore a variety of painting mediums such as watercolor, tempera, acrylic, oil painting and airbrush, time permitting. Students will learn about various historical time periods in painting and artist styles developed throughout history
Ceramics
Grades: 11, 12
This course will explore various hand-building methods as well as the pottery wheel to construct ceramic works. Students will be educated in the drying stages of clay and glazing methods and will learn about creating both functional and non-functional objects
Advanced Ceramics
Grades: 11, 12
This course will build upon the methods and techniques learned in Ceramics to create a variety of sculptures and functional pottery. More emphasis will be placed on design quality and demonstrating his/her own personal style and originality
Architecture & interior Design
Grades: 11, 12
The student in this course will learn how to read blackline prints, draw one-point perspectives, field measure and draft their own residence. They will program and design schematics of their own “dream house” and present to the class as a final drafted project. An overview of a variety of careers in construction and design of buildings are integrated throughout the course.
Stagecraft
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students learn the purpose of theatre, how to read a script, and the basics of 4 design elements of theatre: set design, sound design, lighting design, and costume design. They will learn tool safety and usage, painting techniques, and construction techniques, as well as how to draft and read draftings of designs. Painting and set construction/installation of sets will be part of class time and a small number of hours will be required outside of class time. This course can be taken multiple times. This class size is limited to 15.
VISUAL ART CLASSES
INTRO TO DRAWING
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is an introductory course designed for students who are interested in learning basic drawing skills. They will be presented with the tools necessary to unlock their potential and to develop the way they see objects. They will learn to draw highly recognizable images of any subject matter through the perception of edges, spaces, relationships, lights and shadows, and the perception of the whole. The final project is a realistic portrait drawing.
advance drawing
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students will continue to develop and refine perceptual abilities through the use of line, proportion, and shading in various drawing media, such as charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, colored pencil, etc. They will also explore a variety of subject matter, including portraits, perspective, still life and landscape. Work will be done from both photos and real life
advance art
Grades: 10, 11, 12
This is an advanced level course for students wishing to continue growth in art. After an overview is taken, the instructor will select a number of projects that will be required before allowing the students to advance in their own directions. Students will contract with the instructor regarding what types of projects he/she will do. Students who are pursuing art as a career will use this class to develop his/her portfolio. It is expected that these students are motivated in art and are inspired to create.
Painting
Grades: 10, 11, 12
This course will explore a variety of painting mediums such as watercolor, tempera, acrylic, oil painting and airbrush, time permitting. Students will learn about various historical time periods in painting and artist styles developed throughout history
Ceramics
Grades: 11, 12
This course will explore various hand-building methods as well as the pottery wheel to construct ceramic works. Students will be educated in the drying stages of clay and glazing methods and will learn about creating both functional and non-functional objects
Advanced Ceramics
Grades: 11, 12
This course will build upon the methods and techniques learned in Ceramics to create a variety of sculptures and functional pottery. More emphasis will be placed on design quality and demonstrating his/her own personal style and originality
Architecture & Interior design
Grades: 11, 12
The student in this course will learn how to read blackline prints, draw one-point perspectives, field measure and draft their own residence. They will program and design schematics of their own “dream house” and present to the class as a final drafted project. An overview of a variety of careers in construction and design of buildings are integrated throughout the course.
Stagecraft
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students learn the purpose of theatre, how to read a script, and the basics of 4 design elements of theatre: set design, sound design, lighting design, and costume design. They will learn tool safety and usage, painting techniques, and construction techniques, as well as how to draft and read draftings of designs. Painting and set construction/installation of sets will be part of class time and a small number of hours will be required outside of class time. This course can be taken multiple times. This class size is limited to 15.
