A person with long blonde hair, wearing a light-colored shirt, has their back to the camera and is standing in front of a colorful, splattered paint-covered wall in an art studio. The wall displays various paint colors and patterns, and there are multiple bottles of paint on a table in the foreground.

Visual Art

What You’ll Learn

Here at Trace, students learn about various artists and cultures, art movements, techniques, materials, and art history. Each student has their own sketchbook where they can brainstorm and form a plan before executing their pieces, and each will have a portfolio to keep at the end of their time in the studio. Making art is about exploration and improving dexterity, focusing on process over product, and learning about sharing, discipline, patience, and responsibility (i.e. cleaning your own messes, respect, conserving and upcycling materials).


Lessons are integrated with the core curriculum that students are learning in their classrooms. They come to realize that some pieces take time to produce, so many of our projects take two visits to the studio or more. Importantly, students are provided an outlet to express emotions through productive creativity.

Close-up image of a box of colorful pastel chalks arranged in a row.

Oil Pastels

Examples of students' work (2024-2025 school year) include Day of the Dead (oil pastel on cardboard), Halloween haunted houses (mixed media) & watercolor resist/oil pastel, and Pumpkin Pie slices inspired by Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud (crayon/colored pencil).

A child's drawing of a tall black structure with yellow windows or panels against a colorful background of pink, orange, blue, and green.
A childlike drawing of a spooky haunted house with yellow windows, a yellow door, and an orange outline, set against a purple and pink sky with a full moon and bats. Two small figures with glowing eyes are near the house, and there is a tall, black t
Drawing of a haunted house at night with yellow-lit windows, a dark silhouette of a cat, and a large moon with a spooky face in the sky.
Collage of a Halloween-themed scene with a black house made of paper cutouts stacked in a pyramid shape, with windows and doors, on a purple background. Features include a pink moon, small black cat, barren tree, and hills, with smoke coming from the
A display of children's drawings of a slice of pumpkin pie on various colored backgrounds, labeled as Ms. Espinoza's 2nd Grade Class. There is a clock showing 9:00, a small wooden box, and a sign indicating the class.
Collection of children's artwork, mainly skull-shaped faces, displayed on a wall with a sign indicating it is Ms. Patino's First Grade class.

Meet the Instructor

Close-up of a woman's face with dark hair, wide eyes, and a slight smile.

Ms. Noel

Artist

Hello VPA family! My name is Jolene Noel, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Visual Arts program and the Trace community! I hold a BA from San Jose State University, several teaching certifications, and was twice recognized as a Dean’s Scholar, President’s Scholar, and graduated summa cum laude. I have taught in TK-12th grade classrooms in multiple subjects and have been with San Jose Unified School District for nearly a decade. I also spent time as a docent for the Art Vistas program.

I have always been an artist and create whenever possible during my free time. Art is my passion!

Request Information

Thinking about enrolling? Curious which program might be the right fit? Or maybe you’d like to stroll the campgrounds and see the magic in person. Whatever you’re looking for, we’re here to help.