Art Program
Art is an Integral Part of Life at Villa Maria
Students learn techniques in drawing, painting, graphic design, watercolor, and 3-D work and display their work at school and in the community.
Villa students receive scholarships for pre-college programs and have taken part in summer institutes around the country. Graduates have majored in creative fields at a variety of colleges and universities, including RISD, Parsons, Pratt, SCAD, the University of the Arts, Drexel University, the Pennsylvania State University, York College, and MICA.
Course Offerings:
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| Intro to Art | Interior Design | Honors Art Major | ||
| Studio Art 1 & 2 | Ceramics 1 & 2 | Honors Advanced Art Major | ||
| Collage: Mixed Media | Ceramics Independent Study | AP 2D Art & Design | ||
| Watercolor Painting | Digital Art & Illustration | AP Drawing | ||
| Digital Photography | Graphic Design | AP Art History | ||
Art Instructors
Mrs. Brown is an art educator and specialist. She has a B.S. in Art Education from Kutztown and an M.A. in Art Education from The University of the Arts. The 2025 – 2026 school year marks her 32nd year in education at Villa Maria, along with other experiences at University of the Arts as their Curriculum Coordinator for the Professional Institute for Educators and teaching in their Pre-College and PIE/MEd programs. Mrs. Brown also works privately with students in areas of study skills, time and activity management, art lessons and college bound art students.
Mrs. Brown was voted High School and Non-Public Teacher of the Year in Chester County, earning Citadel’s Heart of Learning Award in 2011. She was also chosen, via a national search, to be a teacher advisor to Scholastic Art Magazine in 2013-2014. She has presented nationally and regionally in various educational topics. She also works in a variety of materials and has shown her artwork in public settings.
Since joining Villa Maria Academy in 2012, Mrs. Bacastow has been a vibrant part of the school’s community inspiring creativity and confidence in her students. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from West Chester University, specializing in ceramics and sculpture with a minor in art history, and later earned her Pennsylvania K–12 Art Education Certification from Rosemont College.
As an accomplished artist, educator, and entrepreneur, Mrs. Bacastow has apprenticed with professional artists and exhibited her original artwork in local and national venues, often donating pieces to support charitable causes. Mrs. Bacastow works in her home studio when she is not teaching at Villa, and continues to pursue professional development through classes, workshops, and museum visits. Through her dedication to education and the arts, she continues to empower students and strengthen community connections.