Each month, the art teachers from Altamont Elementary, Guilderland Elementary, Lynnwood Elementary and Westmere Elementary highlight students who have demonstrated they are practicing Studio Habits of Mind. These eight habits – develop craft, engage and persist, envision, express, observe, reflect, stretch and explore, and understand art worlds – encourage and enable students to be more mindful during the creative process. This is not a contest; the Young Artist of the Month accomplishment acknowledges specific learning and critical thinking that happens in the art room, in relation to Studio Habits of Mind. The students’ pictures and statements are framed and hung in the schools’ entryways.
Altamont Elementary: Owen Whipple
AES is excited to announce our first young artist for the 2024-25 school year, Owen Whipple in Mrs. Nowak’s second grade class. Owen has started off this school year by taking his time to create his very best self portrait and reflect on his artwork as he goes. He has been able to look back and ask himself what he can do to improve his artwork and continues to push his ideas and take his time while creating. By reflecting on his work, Owen was able to make a portrait that he was so proud of and has shown his classmates how important it is to think carefully about what we create. Awesome job Owen! I can’t wait to see what else you create this school year!
Guilderland Elementary: Stella Melita
The October featured artist is Stella Melita. Stella is in Mrs. Tymeson’s third-grade class. It has only been a few weeks and already Stella has shown that she thinks like an artist. During our first whole school project, Stella was engaged in her work and actively doing her best. She understood the directions so well she was able to create another whole sculpture on her own time. This shows the Artist Habit of Mind: ENGAGE AND PERSIST. That means she can focus on her work to solve an art problem. Stella also uses her art time wisely to advance her art abilities. When she was finished with her work she used her time to focus on the world outside the window and do her best to draw what she saw. This is another Artistic Habit of Mind: OBSERVE! Stella is striving to do her best and to improve her skills each day. Keep up the excellent work Stella!
Lynnwood Elementary: Naami Deo
The Lynnwood Young Artist for the month of October is Naami Deo. Naami is in Mrs. Kearney’s fifth grade class. Naami embodies the Studio Habit of Mind; Stretch and Explore. To Stretch and explore means an artist experiments and discovers new ideas and ways of working. During our whole school project Naami experimented with her paper and worked to create a contrast in size by working with very small strips of paper to make tiny rings. Mrs. Gillis was impressed to see someone who had an idea that was completely different than all the others. Naami often tries to think outside the box and experiment with the materials to make something unexpected. Keep up the great work Naami!
Westmere Elementary: Teagan Severino
This month’s featured young artist is Teagan Severino. Teagan is a third grade student in Mrs. Searles’ class. She has demonstrated the Studio Habit of Mind: Observe. Teagan observed her facial features in the mirror to create her own monochromatic self portrait. Monochromatic means one color, so Teagan’s self portrait is mostly one color. I have noticed Teagan trying her best every time she comes to art class. Check out those details in her picture that help to make the drawing look like her! Terrific work, Teagan!