Budding young Picasos, Monets and DaVincis exhibited their extensive artwork Friday evening at Clear Lake Elementary during a special show for family and friends.
‘Some of those portraits and some of the other work is the best I’ve ever seen and I’ve been here for nine years,? said Art Teacher Jonathan Hazlett. ‘I just can’t believe what they can do.?
From self-portraits, abstract pieces and modern art to water colors, oil pastels and ceramics, the students in grades K-5 used a plethora of styles and mediums to visually express themselves.
‘People don’t realize the variety and the volume of work that comes out of the school,? Hazlett said.
It was easy to spot the cultural and historical influences in many students? works. Egyptian, African, Native American and Colonial American styles made for a diverse show.
‘A lot of the work involves studying a specific type of artist, then doing something based on that style,? Hazlett explained.
Self-portraits, like the charcoal sketch done by fifth-grader Lizzy Burr, were representative of the Limners, untrained artists whose main task was to record the likenesses of America’s early colonists. They moved from town to town, painting portraits, often in exchange for board and lodging.
When drawing themselves, Hazlett encouraged students to try ‘looking at yourself in a mirror and seeing what’s really there instead of just drawing what you think it looks like.?
Students studied an X-ray of a human skull to learn the proportions of facial features such as the nose and eyes.
According to Hazlett, most parents were very impressed with what they saw during the show.
‘We had parents coming in saying, ‘I saw some of the first-grade work and I don’t even think I can do that,?? he said. ‘It’s a pretty talented group.?