Discovering Our World (Grade levels K-12)

The artist collaborates with the teacher to incorporate exciting visual components with current subject matter under study. This is a sensational opportunity to do cross-disciplinary work! The artist leads a brainstorming session with the teacher or teachers to come up with innovative ways to make learning fun. Examples might be:

For an English class studying Shakespeare
A creation of mosaics depicting the events in the play. The artist would provide an outline for the mosaic. The students would learn an artform practiced during Shakespeare's time and also be able to create images of the scenes written in the play.

For a Geography class studying a continent or country
A creation of a giant puzzle depicting the land mass. Each student would create one of the features (state, country, body of water). The artist would create the basic outline. The students would then have the puzzle to use as a resource, and they will be invested in the knowledge since they would have all had a part in bringing it to form.

For a Biology class studying vertebrates and invertebrates
A creation of masks of different animals. The artists would provide detailed renderings and templates for the students to use in the creation of their masks. The students would then be able to see, create, and be the animals they are studying.

The sky is the limit!
The artist is really excited about learning everything she forgot in school! For math we could do origami, for social studies we could become figures out of current events and then hold a debate as those figures. Use me teachers, we'll have a blast and so will the kids.

Activity Options:

Discover Your World

• Duration: 60 min. plus teacher meeting
• Fees: $85/class; $55/teacher meeting
• Requirements: Collaboration with teacher. Assorted materials as discovered in teacher meeting.

Watercolor Workshop (Grade levels 5-12)

This activity consists of three sixty minute sessions scheduled at least one day apart, (can be once a week for three weeks or all in the same week.) Students are introduced to watercolor artists by seeing a slide show. The artists introduces the students to watercolor techniques by having the students conduct a series of experiments. They then have the opportunity to build a group still life and paint it.

Activity Options:

Watercolor Workshop

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Electrical outlet, student grade watercolor paper and watercolor paints and brushes.

Map of the United States (Grade levels 3-6)

The artist provides a wall-sized rendering of the United States. The children are then given paper puzzle pieces in the shape of regions of the states. They are encouraged to complete the map by finding things that are important to their state and region and depicting them on their puzzle piece. The finished product then can stay in the classroom as a visual aid and continue to be used as more is discovered about the country.

Activity Options:

Map of the United States

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt (Grade levels 3-12)

Students learn about some black African kings and queens who ruled in Egypt. They create masks of Nefertiti, Queen Ty, Amenhotep III, or Akhenaten. We can experiment with a number of different art materials such as pastels, oil pastels, tempera, markers, or crayons.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Great Women Artists (Grade levels 3-12)

Students are introduced to women who have created great works of art throughout history. They will see slides of their work and create a masterpiece based on the women’s works. The artist will provide a still life to inspire the creations of the students.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Great Women Artists

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: You Are the Work of Art! (Grade levels K-12)

A collaboration between students and visiting artist. In this activity, the students create a comic cell that they are the stars of. The artist does a two minute line drawing of each student. The student colors it, adds a bubble with whatever the character is saying or thinking, and then mounts the final piece on colored paper. This serves as an introduction to portraiture, and children learn new ways of describing a face.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

You Are the Work of Art!

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Civil Disobedience (Grade levels 6-12)

A portrait lesson with a discussion of the roots and importance of civil disobedience. The artist brings portraits that she has created of Martin Luther, Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Ghandi, and Nelson Mandela. She inspires a discussion of the causes for the decisions that these people made to engage in civil disobedience. The students then select one of the figures that they are most interested in and create their own portrait of that person. The artist offers tips for creating a likeness when referring to a picture.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Civil Disobedience

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Native American Stories (Grade levels 2-12 )

Students learn the names and locations of two Native American tribes. They learn two stories and create masks of the characters in the stories. Native American stories often teach important lessons such as being careful, listening to elders, attentiveness, forgiveness. Students learn that stories can be fun and teach too!

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Native American Stories

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: The Middle Ages (the years between AD 400 and 1450) (Grade levels 3-8)

Students work together to create a mural depicting a castle, a knight, a lady, and coats of arms. The artist provides a full-color, wall-sized depiction of the castle, etc. The children receive puzzle pieces that they work on to create their own mural that can then be displayed in the school. Each team learns the parts of their project and so each child can then teach the others things that they learned.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

The Middle Ages

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Johnny Appleseed (Grade levels K-5)

The artist and children retell the story of Johnny Appleseed. We talk about legends and myths. We then make masks of the animals that Johnny Appleseed met in his travels.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Johnny Appleseed

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: The Nutcracker (Grade levels K-5)

The artist provides detailed renderings of the characters of the story, Clara, The Mouse King, The Nutcracker, Herr Drosselmeir and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The children would then be able to see, create and be the characters from the story.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

The Nutcracker

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: The Purim Story (Grade levels K-6)

The artist provides detailed renderings of the characters from the story, Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus, Haman and Mordecai. The students then would be able to see, create and be the characters from the story. These masks could later be used in a parade.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

The Purim Story

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Spoon River Anthology (Grade levels 6-12)

The artist works with the students to unlock the portraits the words have made in their minds. The students use as many of the visual art tools that they can to depict as much as they can about their character. Once they have created their portrait, they can use it as a mask, light it from the front with a flashlight and let it speak the words of Edgar Lee Masters.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Spoon River Anthology

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Roman Comedy: Plautus Plays (Grade levels 4-8)

We will create masks to be used in enacting Roman plays. Later the children can work on doing a performance of the play using their masks.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Roman Comedy: Plautus Plays

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Greek Mythology: The Story of Atalanta (Grade levels K-12)

The artist begins by telling the story of Atalanta. She has children help her by dressing in costumes and wearing masks. The audience also helps her by making sound effects that signal the entrance of a new character. This is a story that has numerous different versions. The class will investigate those versions and might even want to create their own version. The children also will make masks of the characters in the myth.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Greek Mythology: The Story of Atalanta

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Crazy About Color (Grade levels K-6)

The artist provides templates and prototypes of animal masks fantastically colored. Children then create their own animal masks using their own crazy colors. The artist also provides colored cellophane for the children use as lenses in the masks that they create. Children then can do experiments by seeing how their world is transformed when they look through differently colored lenses.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.The artist provides templates and prototypes of animal masks fantastically colored. Children then create their own animal masks using their own crazy colors.

Activity Options:

Crazy About Color

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Mud Cloth (Grade levels K-12)

The artist provides the students with symbols from Ghanaian, Egyptian, Chinese, Native American and Celtic traditions. The students then create their own mud cloth banners by choosing the symbols that mean the most to them.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Mud Cloth

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Animal Masks, (Rainforest Animals, Arctic and Ice Age Animals, Winter Birds of Ohio, Sea and River Animals, and others) (Grade levels K-8)

The artist provides detailed renderings and templates for the students to use in the creation of their masks. The students would then be able to see, create and be the animals they are studying.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Animal Masks

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.

Portrait Programs: Three Dimensional Animal Masks (Grade levels 2-6)

The artist provides templates that the children will then decorate and assemble. They are then wearable. Children can continue by creating stories and plays utilizing their animal creations.

On Portrait Programs: Children wear costumes and masks to help the artist introduce the characters. The class and artist then begin a brainstorming session to learn important facts about each presentation. The children then choose the figure that most interests them and create their own mask depicting that figure. Programs are adjusted to fit the grade level of the participants.

Activity Options:

Three Dimensional Animal Masks

• Duration: 60 min.
• Fees: $85
• Requirements: Classroom with work tables or desks. One class maximum. Posterboard, craft sticks, glue, masking tape, scissors, oil pastels, crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic or tempra paints, pencils w/erasers.