Oil Pastels with Art 1 & Advanced Art

Students explore the expressive potential of oil pastels through activities that emphasize both technical skill and experimentation. By introducing foundational concepts such as layering, blending, and creating texture through mark-making, I guide students in developing a deeper understanding of how materials can be manipulated to achieve a range of visual effects. Students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and reflect on their process.

Lubeznik Art Center Class Trip

My Art Appreciation class (Lake Michigan College) and Advanced Art classes (Bridgman High School) visited the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana, which was a valuable experience to see contemporary art in person. We explored work by Maria Bundunarena as well as an immersive installation by Luftwerk, which transformed the gallery space with light and color. The students also created artwork inspired by the exhibition. The trip gave students a chance to connect classroom discussions about contemporary art to real-world experiences, sparking thoughtful conversations.

Ceramics with Art 1 & Advanced Art

This semester, my Art 1 and Advanced Art students created ceramics, exploring handbuilding techniques like coil building and slab construction, as well as experimenting with sculpting and glazes. Along the way, we discussed the work of notable ceramic artists, from famous artists like Maria Martinez to contemporary local artists like Laurie Sharkus. Seeing how these artists use form, texture, and glaze to communicate ideas gave students a framework for thinking about their own work.

Surrealism with Art 1

My Art 1 students just finished their Surrealism Drawing Project, and it was an incredible way to see how much they’ve grown this semester. After studying artists such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Remedios Varo, students explored ideas of their own within their sketchbooks.

Using the drawing and colored-pencil techniques we’ve practiced throughout the semester, students created surreal scenes filled with visual metaphors and unexpected combinations. They began by brainstorming then sketching a contour outline from imagination without a reference. Next they developed a value map and planned their color scheme. Once prepared, they moved into shading and coloring.

Even though the project allowed for a lot of creativity and fun, it also challenged students to think critically and to use the drawing skills they developed throughout the semester.

The final artworks showcased their growing technical skills and offered a glimpse into their developing artistic voices. I’m proud of their hard work and excited to share the results.