Picasso once said, "It took me 4 years to learn to paint like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to paint like a child." Creativity is unbridled in the high school setting. In my art room, students learn to be more self aware through the arts, especially as they prepare for college and the real world.
My 200+ students range from 9th through 12th grade and come from a low social and economic background.
My students bring a wealth of stories that they transfer into their artwork. I have personally purchased many things for these students to use to help assist them reach their creative potential, including brushes, paints, and even pencils. They have discovered how they can find natural clay in the world. For some, art gives the students a reason to attend school. Students have said my room is a place where they feel safe and accepted.
My Project
Since Albrecht Durer started using the printing press in the early parts of the 16th century, print making has been an integral part of the art community. Andy Warhol and the Pop Artists of the late 20th century have pushed the importance of printmaking to a much higher and a more sophisticated level.
By learning various printmaking techniques students can understand there is a cognitive process in the creation of art.
This media challenges students as they realize there are secondary and tertiary steps that they must navigate before they arrive at their end result. This press, the ink, and these templates will give my students an even better opportunity to unlock more of what the art world can offer, and to help them discover more what they can give to the art world.
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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 Mr. Schultz and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
