all star artist

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with my all star girl artist for March to ask her a few art related questions.

Her name is Dhamar Jaimes and she is a 3rd grader in Ms. Kidwell's class. Dhamar always does an excellent job with her art projects in class. When we do more directed lessons, she renders things very well, and when the projects call for more creative problem solving she always rises to the occasion and comes up with something cool and original. When Dhamar finishes a project early, she will quietly assist others or create a "free" drawing and apply what she learned from that day's lesson.

It is things like this that made it easy to select her as one of my Artists of the Month.

So, Dhamar, how was your rainy weekend?
It was okay. I collected hail and put it in the freezer.
Cool!

What do you like most about making art?
I like to get all creative and I like to make funny characters.

Is there a media that is your favorite?
Pottery. You can make fun stuff with it, like I made a slipper, but it's actually a holder. 
I love that about clay too. To be able to make something and use it for something too makes it even cooler.

Is there a cartoon or animated movie, that when you watch it you think "wow, that just looks so cool"?
Looney Tunes. Bugs Bunny.
Wow! Pretty old school, Dhamar. What do you like about it?
He likes carrots and he says "what's up doc?"

Are there any people that inspire you to make art?
My mom. She made a picture of a woman that I really like.

Out of the art pieces you have made, which is your favorite and why?
The one I made with Miss Danielle. It was a clown done with oil pastels. I like it because the clown is silly.
I'm beginning to see a trend here. You really like to make humorous artwork. I think that's great. Not all art has to be serious.

What do you want to do when you grow up? Why?
An artist.
Can you be more specific? There are lots of things you can do as a professional artist.
I would make prints.
Oh, like we did for the Jolby project, where we used styrofoam to make a stamp.
Why?
Because I could reuse it any time to make more of them and I could make more money that way.

Great interview, Dhamar! Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule and thanks to Ms. Kidwell for excusing you from a few minutes of social studies instruction.

This is part of a series of twice monthly posts that features the work and words of one of our many talented student artists at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy. To be selected, students must be models of respect, engagement, and creativity in the art room. A boy and a girl will be showcased each month.

all star artist

The all star boy for the month of February is Keoni Saberon, who is a 4th grader in Ms. Wagner and Ms. Miller's class.

Keoni does a great job in the art room every time his class comes in for a lesson. He is focused on the task at hand, and goes about his creative work in a very professional manner. One of the exceptional things I have noticed about Keoni's work this year is his great use of light and dark to make flat shapes come alive and appear 3d.

Keoni was kind enough to share his thoughts about art and life with me, and in turn, you:)

What do you like most about making art?
I like making creative art because I can make anything I want.

Is there a media (paint, crayon, collage, etc.) that you enjoy most? Why?
I like to paint because I get to draw a picture and make it stand out.

Is there a cartoon or animated movie that when you watch it, you think "wow, that just looks so cool"? What do you like about it?
I like to draw Phineas and Ferb because they create different ideas like me.


I know what you mean Keoni. My son and I LOVE Phineas and Ferb because they are so inventive.

Are there any people that inspire you to make the art you do?
Yes, Mr. Masse inspires me.


Thanks dude, that's really cool to hear, especially from such a talented artist like yourself.

Out of the art pieces you have made, which is your favorite and why.
My favorite art piece is the one that we used the construction paper crayons on because it was put on display at the San Diego Art Institute.

Keoni was one of 35 students to have work displayed at the museum in Balboa Park this year as part of our annual student exhibit there!

What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
I want to be a firefighter because if there is a fire I would put it out and rescue people.


Very noble of you, Keoni. Firefighters do so many different things to help people in need. If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you will be a great firefighter and role model to others. As of now, you are a great role model of creativity and on task behavior in the art room.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions and congratulations Keoni!


This is part of a series of twice monthly posts that features the work and words of one of our many talented student artists at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy. To be selected, students must be models of respect, engagement, and creativity in the art room. A boy and a girl will be showcased each month.

this girl rocks!

Our girl all star is Stephany Lopez from room 30! Stephany exhibits great focus and creativity every time she does a lesson with her class. If she finishes a project early and has a chance to free draw afterwards, she applies the lesson's skills into that piece of art as well.

I had a chance to sit down with Stephany today to ask her about her thoughts on art.


Why do you like art?
My brother Christopher (former Zamo student, too) likes to do art and he started to show me how to do things and I liked it.


Is there a media you enjoy most? Why?
Painting because you can make nice bright colors.

Are there any people that inspire you to make art?
My brother Christopher.
Way to go Chris!


Out of the pieces you have done this year, which is your favorite and why?
The whale drawing because it's under the sea and I like lots of sea creatures.

Is there a cartoon or animated movie that when you watch it, you think "wow, that just looks so cool"?
Spongebob. I like the costumes and that it takes place under the sea.


What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
An artist.
What kind of artist? There a lots of things an artist can do.
A sculptor because it looks fun. I made a paper sculpture at my house.

Thanks for your time, Stephany! Keep up the great work. I'll make sure to plan a sculpture lesson with 2nd grade so you can try it again soon:)




This is part of a series of twice monthly posts that features the work and words of one of our many talented student artists at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy. To be selected, students must be models of respect, engagement, and creativity in the art room. A boy and a girl will be showcased each month.

all star artist

The boy all star artist for December is Samuel Gooden. He is a 1st grader in Mrs. Schmitt's and Ms. Willis's class. Samuel does a great job coming up with inventive takes on the projects that he does in art class. There is usually something about his projects that stand out. It could be his choice of color, composition, or the detail he adds. He also has great fine motor control for a guy his age. Samuel did numerous pieces in kindergarten that blew this teacher out of the water as well. I look forward to seeing him grow as a student and as an artist in future years.

I sat down with Samuel to get his take on a few things about art.

Why do you like to make art?
It's really nice to do. It makes me feel good.

Is there a art tool that you like most?
I like all of them, but I really like colored pencils.

Is there a place where you make your best art at? Places like your family room, the kitchen, or places at school?
In the classroom. I can see what my friends are doing and I can see how you are doing it.

What is your favorite thing to make or draw?
Battle scenes.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
An artist. An awesome artist.

I think you've got the awesome part already down, Samuel! Keep up the great work in art and your other school subjects. Thanks for taking your time to answer some questions.

This is part of a series of twice monthly posts that features the work and words of one of our many talented student artists at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy. To be selected, students must be models of respect, engagement, and creativity in the art room. A boy and a girl will be showcased each month.

another all star.

Drum roll please...

The girl all star artist of the month of November is Khadija Sheikh. She is a 4th grader who rocks it every time she comes into my art room. Khadija is a great model of on task behavior for the rest of her class. She focuses well on the tasks at hand and always completes her creative projects as a result. Khadija demonstrates a sharp compositional sense in her work and her projects are always executed neatly with great care.

Khadija was kind enough to let me interrupt her busy day with a few questions about art.

Why do you enjoy art making as much as you do?
I just do it for fun. I didn't know I was a good artist.
Khadija, you are not just a good artist, you're a great one!

Is there a media that you enjoy most? Why?
Oil pastels because they are bright and messy.

What inspires you to make art?
Harry Potter because I like the cover artwork.


Out of the pieces you have done, which is your favorite and why?
The oil pastel Day of the Dead skeleton because it looks better and brighter than the other projects I've done.

Are you thinking you will pursue an art related career? What and why?
No.

Well, if not a career in art would would you like to do?
I want to be a teacher like Mrs. Lewis (her amazing classroom teacher) because I think it will be better to teach than learn, but i still like learning.


Thank you Khadija for being a great art student and such a positive role model for other students in your class! Keep up the fantastic work.

This is part of a series of twice monthly posts that features the work and words of one of our many talented student artists at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy. To be selected, students must be models of respect, engagement, and creativity in the art room. A boy and a girl will be showcased each month.