ART + DESIGN
M A D E | McNicholas Art + Design Education
Rocket Art
The Visual Arts Program emphasizes the connections between creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. It is designed for the student who needs one required credit or a multi-year studio program that allows students to pursue an interest or a career in the arts.
Given the chance to dream, anyone may have an opportunity to create something – a product, artwork, a business – that will change the world. We celebrate art and ideas here!
M A D E | Art + Design Tours
For tour information, please email: mailto:lcarigan@mcnhs.org
Foundation Art
Freshman Artist Portfolio Process
A portfolio is a collection of your work, which shows how your skills and ideas have developed over a period of time. It demonstrates your creativity, personality, abilities, and commitment and helps us to evaluate your potential and placement.
How to create a digital portfolio for submissions
Find your home in M A D E | You Belong Here
The practice and study of art-making at McNick is for aspiring, emerging, or established visual artists who will grow individually through intensive engagement with their craft and lively, often profound exchanges of ideas and work.
- Largest creative arts and design program among private Cincinnati schools
- 23 Art + Design courses, including AP courses in all disciplines
- Opportunity for on-campus College Credit Plus (3 college credits),
- Art History course with Art & Architecture travel study abroad option
- Only Catholic Architecture and Design Program in Cincinnati
- REVIT Industry/Professional standard architectural software on all architecture students’ tablets
- ESCAPE software is used to create Virtual Reality presentations for experiencing the inside of residential homes and commercial buildings
- Adobe Creative Cloud on all art student’s tablets Glowforge, 3D Printers, Vacuum Table, for architectural models and industrial design projects
- Large format printing, High-resolution art printers, Sublimation printer, Plotter for floorplans, and Printing Press for Printmaking
- iPads in architecture and photography
- Two Apple MacBook Pro Labs: Architecture and Photography, Adobe Creative Cloud used in both Mac Labs and on student tablets
- State-of-the-art and award-winning ceramics program
- Kiln room with a Raku Kiln, Glass Kiln, Bailey Gas, Electric, and Test Kiln
- Traditional darkroom and full digital photo lab with DSL cameras and a drone
- Award-winning art and design program
- Scholastic Gold and Silver National Medal Winners, Regional Gold and Silver Key Winners, and Overture Finalists
- Student Artwork displayed in the Ohio State Capitol, Congressional Offices, and Federal Buildings
- Art & Design students successfully compete for college admissions and scholarships from prestigious art schools and university art programs nationwide
- National Art Honor Society for invited students
- MADE Honors Certificate at graduation
Ask us about the HONORS GRADUATION Certification
Travel Abroad | Study
Global Scholars | CCP Art History
Supplementing classroom learning, McNick students can enrich their global awareness by participating in the Global Scholars, applying what they have learned, and experience many of the richest cultural sites in the world.
Student-Created, Educational Tours, Video Finalist Winners
Abby J: Global Citizenship
https://www.eftours.com/weshare/gallery/5ca0fe33ecbdde0837a94f28/
Marie S: The Stories of Exploring Italy and Greece
https://www.eftours.com/weshare/gallery/5c9febe4ecbdde0837a94d74/
The Stories of Exploring Italy and Greece
Our Light
Global Citizenship
Past Architecture and Ceramics Student Portfolios
Click on the image to enlarge, then hold your camera towards the computer screen and it will scan the QR Code. It will take you to the individual art student's portfolio. Their portfolios are works in progress and will be updated throughout the year.
How to prepare for college in various art fields
M A D E | Philosophy Of Art Education
The M A D E program provides students with the opportunity to develop a stronger sense of their own identity while striving to unlock the artist in every student by encouraging them to continuously discover their own aesthetic voice through the process of creating art, exploring techniques, materials, concepts, and theories. As students are guided through the process of creating art, we expand their creative problem-solving skills, build confidence through successful mastery of media, and use constructive criticism to enhance personal reflection, and growth/maturity. Students strengthen their knowing, doing, being, seeing valuing, and believing, which is within all things we create and consume, this artmaking is a literacy practice aimed at communicating thoughts and ideas to real-life audiences. The Art + Design Department shares the belief that not only through an understanding of art + design foundations, but with an understanding of art history, the foundational concepts and communication found within art and design can students reach their full potential as artists. Additionally, the Art + Design Department actively works to connect our students and school to the greater world community through the arts.
For More Information
Our powerful fusion of mentorship, education, beauty, and hope creates a safe space in which our students, can feel comfortable learning.
We welcome your interest in and inquiries about McNicholas Arts + Design Community.
Dept. Chair: Mel Gaskins mailto:mgaskins@mcnhs.org
Sarah Nestheide mailto:snestheide@mcnhs.org
Indigo Hudepohl mailto:ihudepohl@mcnhs.org
McNick Artist on Instagram: mcnickfine_arts_design
McNick Travel & Study on Instagram: mcnickstudyabroad
Email: mgaskins@mcnhs.org
Website: www.mcnhs.org
Location: 6536 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Phone: 5132313500