My students need these specific materials to create prints that are as rich and expressive as they are! Every student has a story they can tell through printmaking. This process helps develop their artistic voice.
My name is Sara Howard and I teach at a public school in rural, south central Arkansas. My students come from diverse economic, racial and social backgrounds. Our school culture seeks to give every student a place to belong, beginning with teachers who care and who excel in their fields.
I chose to teach at my school because of it's dynamic diversity: for that is what rich culture is made of!
As a visual artist and certified art educator I feel the importance of helping every student find their voice in the visual arts. Teaching art to high school students effectively involves building a complex scaffolding that they may climb, one rung at a time, to become art smart.
My goal has been to take the existing school resources and add new mediums so that each learner finds at least one area that they enjoy. Printmaking is the area of art that excites me because it is fluid, flexible and forgiving. I want my students to experience that joy in their art journey. Build a bridge for a student..help change their world and ours for the better!
My Project
Printmaking is a spontaneous medium that allows students a wide range of expression. Open ended, student centered use of these materials allows students a vital opportunity. They no longer feel they must "make something" because they are required to. Instead they come to enjoy the creative process. They find a very important piece of themselves: their unique creative voice.
These specific materials are environment friendly (soy based inks that clean up with plain water) and the beautiful colors and textures invite students to compose cohesive works of art.
The Akua Pin Press is unique and suited for the classroom. It is one sleek cylinder of metal, nothing to pinch, bind or break. It can be used by students of all abilities. It stand up to the rigors of the high school art room. The clear printmaking sheets allow students to place their drawings underneath and transform a pencil drawing into something new. When students tire, as they will, or "just drawing" they can take their work to a new level through a variety of methods.
Printmaking also breeds generosity! The ability to produce multiple works from one image means, literally there is art to share, swap and trade. Students can enter prints in a wide variety of art competitions while still retaining that "piece of themselves". This is most important to the adolescent artist.
My students spend hours learning the elements and principles of design and work hard at applying them. I hope to offer them the unique opportunity to participate in "green print making". I can't wait to see what they will come up with! Long live art!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Howard and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.