I have stepped out of the professional world of art and business designing to address a real issue that has occurred in learning: The decline of rigorous and relevant visual arts. Art needs to be an intentional demonstration of grade-level applications and scaffold skills to higher levels, and be a demonstration for the functional, commercial, industrial and emotional capacities of Visual Arts.
I teach in a school that is 90% free-meal eligible, a dual-language school, and could be easy from the outside to judge kids based on those statistics.
My art room speaks to them that they are creators, they have the freedom to experiment and make mistakes, and we can expressively develop as humans and intentionally grow through art. Many of our students experience real trauma, and I reach many through art therapy techniques woven into learning the foundations of visual arts, and how through time artists use creation to productively Cope within struggles. I ingrain into them that they have the creative power to become anything they want to be; whatever they think they are limited by now, they have the ability to rise above the challenge and do something amazing in their own life.
My Project
Like any craft, the quality of the environment and tools that a young aspiring mind grows on greatly influences the love and drive derived from it, and there is no truer example than the Visual Arts. Many of our students will never have paints bought for them at home, let along getting to learn technique on easels and with supplies not readily available to them in a store. Our students are ones that are at risk of never being enlightened to their God-given gifts and talents for no better reason than their income status. These tools for artistic use coupled with motivating literacy pieces is intended to open their minds to possibilities and new passions.
I will never forget the vision and joy I experienced the first time I painted on an easel or practiced my craft on quality tools because a force of creativity was birthed in me when I was given the chance to see myself as a True Artist.
Simple tools to the experienced artist, yet for these kids they are lighthouses into a future passion and purpose. This year I have watched children light up as they use the supplies these projects have afforded them- learning fervor from quality paints and brushes, the visual support a document camera gave to our ELL students to produce beautiful pieces no matter the language, or the joy that fills a room of eager learners as they are exposed to techniques in art that were not previously given to them. We teach the historical giants in the arts to these kids and forget that MANY of them came from impoverished backgrounds or broken dreams that fueled their creative genius out of darkness and I believe these books & tools will enlighten these artists to be the NEXT GIANT in art!
U.S. Art Supply 14" High Exhibitor Black Steel Tabletop Instant Display Easel (Pack of 6 Easels) - Small Portable Tripod Stand, Adjustable Holders - Display Paintings, Pictures, Signs, Holds 5 lbs
• Amazon Business
$34.96
6
$209.76
21101-2007 - Blick Black Cat Waterproof India Ink - Quart
• Blick Art Materials
$13.18
3
$39.54
Caydo 24 Pieces 12 Colors Children's Artists Fabric Aprons for Kitchen, Classroom, Community Event, Crafts and Art Painting Activity
• Amazon Business
$14.99
2
$29.98
SUNKISTY [60 Pack] Pointed Round Painting Brush,Hand Made Thread Drawing Brush,Detail Paint Brush for Acrylic, Oil and Watercolor (S(#0))
• Amazon Business
$17.99
1
$17.99
Mod Podge CS15066 Extreme Glitter 8 Oz
• Amazon Business
$6.99
2
$13.98
Creativity Street 5167 Colossal Brush, Natural Bristle, Flat (Set of 30)
• Amazon Business
$12.98
1
$12.98
Creativity Street 5167 Colossal Brush, Natural Bristle, Flat (Set of 30)
• Amazon Business
$12.98
1
$12.98
Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World (Women in Science)
• Amazon Business
$12.97
1
$12.97
Morpho: Hands and Feet: Anatomy for Artists (Morpho: Anatomy for Artists)
• Amazon Business
$11.61
1
$11.61
101 Mixed Media Techniques: Master the fundamental concepts of mixed media art
• Amazon Business
$10.67
1
$10.67
Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire
• Amazon Business
$9.89
1
$9.89
Mod Podge 10615 3 Piece Short Handle Brush Set, 3 Count
• Amazon Business
$9.29
1
$9.29
Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art
• Amazon Business
$6.79
1
$6.79
The Magical Garden of Claude Monet (Anholt's Artists Books For Children)
• Amazon Business
$6.59
1
$6.59
Materials cost
$405.02
Vendor shipping charges
$8.48
Sales tax
$33.01
3rd party payment processing fee
$6.08
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$482.59
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$85.16
Total project goal
$567.75
Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Ms. H and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
