In this session of children’s art classes for ages 7-11 years old, children study several artists to inspire their projects. Shel Silverstein’s book “The Giving Tree” is the inspiration to learn to draw a deciduous tree in a landscape reviewing how to paint with watercolors including washes, textures and patterns in the natural world. Patterns in nature and animals are also explored through looking at fabric patterns created by Ghanan textile artists to make a collage with printed paper strips and black & metallic markers. Another collage is inspired by Pablo Picasso and the paper cut-outs of Henri Matisse.  Through this collage children will study composition using shapes, patterns & positive/negative spaces.

Autumn is celebrated by studying Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting. Using oil pastels for the drawing of a nighttime landscape focusing on lines to show movement and form in the sky, the flickering of a fire & pumpkin shapes.  Session Two ends enjoying Yosai Kusama, known as the Painter of Polka dots. She has painted sculptures, canvases, rooms, buildings, trees and fabric with colorful polka dots!! We will be inspired by a book about her and images of her artwork. Children will paint a variety of polka dot patterns on their pumpkins using acrylic paints and a variety of tools & brushes.

Sharon Lee Mullen-Reynolds knew in High School that she was to be an Art teacher.  That is exactly what she did; for 36 years she taught Visual Art in the city of New Haven.  Her career hi-light was teaching 22 years at the Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School.  During her tenure there she was a published Fellow at Yale N.H.Teachers Institute for 2 years, the  Department Chairperson for 8 years and creator of As Far As The Eye Can See a school-wide art exhibit.

Since her retirement in 2016, she has been attending numerous art exhibits and installations locally and in NYC, specifically Frida Kahlo’s exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum which led her to create Frida- inspired floral headpieces. In 2017 she started The Kindness Rock art installation at the Branford Festival.

Sharon is an artist who believes that art can heal your soul.  In 2022 she sold her headpieces at the Ukrainian Roman Catholic church for the benefit of Ukraine’s War effort and donated 5 Ukrainian Strong “Petals for Peace” paintings to raise additional funds. These paintings were showcased on Channel 8 news.

In addition to her headpieces, Sharon works in mixed-media, crafts, collage, and watercolor landscape en plein air. Sharon’s artwork has been exhibited at City-Wide Open Studios, The ARTS Council, Calligraphers Guild, and is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Dates: Wednesdays, October 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18

Time: 4:00 – 5:30 PM                                                                          

Cost: $125.  All materials included.

Where: Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT

Registration must go through Park & Recreation

To register visit: Essex Park and Recreation

For more information visit: Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisan Store online