Featured Student Artist: Cassie Wang

Cassie Wang was born in Providence, Rhode Island in October 2003. She moved to Princeton, New Jersey with her family in October 2005. Cassie loves art and has attended Sharron Art Center since September 2012. Her teacher, Danielle Oyales, inspires Cassie a lot. In May 2013, Cassie won the 1st place in the New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest. The theme was “Where Does Your Water Shed?” As the state 1st place winner, she was advanced to the national level. In October 2013, Cassie was named a Top Ten Winner in her grade division out of thousands of entries submitted in the summer contest hosted. Her art, “Happy Birds“, was finished in oil pastel. Currently, Cassie is working on watercolor.

To learn more about our national art contest, visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

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Featured Teacher: Cherie Jenkins

Cherie Jenkins teaches art to students in grades K-12 for two home school Co-ops in Dallas, TX.  Her student, Aiden Moller, was selected as a Top Ten Winner in our Spring 2013 art contest.  The winning art, “Whimsical Bird”, can be viewed here.  Cherie has had over 100 students become published artists since she first participated in our national art contest in 2013.

We asked Cherie her thoughts on engaging student artists and what helps her to be successful in the classroom. She responded with the following:

“I find that while engaging art students in the classroom, it is best to keep in mind the need to break down the lesson into several parts. My students flourish with step-by-step instructions from drawing with lines and shapes that are familiar, to painting using color families on the color wheel, as well as a good foundation in art elements and principles of design. I especially enjoy working with my students as they explore the different art mediums and art techniques I’ve introduced to them. During each lesson, I strive to inspire my students to work towards ‘Completion’, rather than perfection. Many students get caught up in trying to produce ‘Perfect’ art, discouragement then sets in and the art piece is left unfinished. While students are focusing on completion, it’s their ‘Creative’ mind that influences their art piece, instead of their ‘Critical’ mind. As an art teacher, I see my calling as one who not only instructs but inspires, and inspiration is just as important as instruction for the creative process.”

To learn more about our national art contest, visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

Featured Student Artist: Zac Cutler

Zachary Cutler was a sixth grader taking classes at Magic of Art Studio when his art, Paradise, was selected as a national Top Ten Winner in our Spring 2013 art contest.

“Magic of Art Studio has taught me many different skills in art.” Zac explains, “When I painted Paradise I was very ill. I wanted to create something colorful, in that part of my life, to cheer me up from my sickness. I was inspired by a beautiful painting I saw when I was looking through an art book. I saw a picture of two parakeets and wondered what it would look like in watercolor.  I am humbled and extremely honored for being chosen as one of the Top Ten Winners out of thousands of entries. Thank you for this award.”

In the future, Zac plans to focus on more 3 dimensional works of art.

To learn more about our national art contest, visit www.CelebratingArt.com.