Discovering New Artists!

Art classes at Mendham Township Elementary School are not only fun, but they are also helping students reveal artistic skills that they may not have even realized they had! The students are discovering that they themselves are artists. The students bring their imagination and enthusiasm to class; their weekly art lessons help channel that creativity, giving form and definition to original and striking art pieces.

Under the direction of Mrs. Sarah Bizzarro, Art Director at Mendham Township Elementary School, the students are guided through analyzing and learning different techniques. For example, third graders were recently participating in a series of lessons on Vincent van Gogh. The students learned about the background of the artist, key events in their lives, how the artist may have been feeling, and the expectations or confines on art imposed by society during the artist’s lifetime. Then Mrs. Bizzarro gently guides the students in analyzing key pieces of art produced by Van Gogh. The students are invited to consider the judgments and evaluations reported by key critics during the 19th century and then to carefully construct their own interpretation and assessment of the masterpieces. The students are provided with paradigms and vocabulary so they are able to express their opinion on why they may like or not like a painting, and also to explain what is being expressed in the piece and how they formed their own conclusion about the piece.

Next, the students are introduced to different techniques employed by the artist. Some techniques were standard and some techniques were new or enhanced by Van Gogh. The students begin to build their artistic skill set by using them in their own creations. The students are encouraged in the execution of these techniques to express their own feelings and emotions. For example, Van Gogh may have favored the color yellow in painting his “Sunflowers,” while Mrs. Bizzarro’s students were invited to use either warm or cool colored oil pastels as a palette for their creation. At the same time, by using mark-masking techniques the students had the opportunity to apply new ways of adding depth and texture to their art. Another assignment for students was to create their own “Starry Night.” Students learned how to describe the movement they could see in the original masterpiece. How the artist can take the viewer’s eye from the sky to the peaceful town and back up to the sky. You can see several examples of the students’ new and unique art pieces by visiting the School’s Facebook site.

Mrs. Bizzarro is focused on being a creativity coach for all of her students. Her goal is to guide them as they discover the artist within themselves and gain an appreciation for the amazing art of various artists and cultures around the world. “The students' bright faces inspire me to design art activities that will engage their aesthetic intelligence,” says Mrs. Bizzarro. “Their ideas are the true currency in the Art room. My classroom door is always open to any student or parent who wishes to create.