May 18, 2016
Dear Art Supporter,
I wanted to Introduce you to Suzanne’s Studio, My Summer Art
Programs, and invite you to learn about filling the ArtGAP. Learn about how my
business started and what has happened
over the past several years.
I begin by openly thanking my current supporters and I acknowledge
the ongoing donations and contributions, and encourage continued support from
you. Here’s a little information about
my program.
My Summer Art Camps began as an activity with my own
children in exchange for some tutoring and summer school sessions. We were and still are parents exchanging time
and talent to manage the need for activities, socialization and preventing the
long summer from being ordinary. A few friends and some paint and paper soon
grew into an ongoing summer of art play-dates, field trips and more.
After-school
art clubs, ongoing art lessons for all age groups, as well as private
instruction for moms, children, toddler groups, and church groups have become a
supplement to my art studio. Always
seeking new audiences and opportunities to improve my teaching skills, I
brought my art and instruction to various non-profit groups within the
community. The last 8 years have brought
many smiles of paint and color to many hands.
Now I
continue my mission to teach and share by offering art education, summer camps,
workshops and demonstrations throughout the year, and to all audiences.
In 2015
I was approached by a teacher from a struggling school community. Could I help her plan and teach a few art
lessons for her second graders? The school had little funding and some of the
supplies were being paid for by “awarded” money. Within the same week a second teacher
approached me, from the same district, different school, with the same request. This time she was paying out of her own
pocket. It was clear and heartbreaking
that these teachers were FIGHTING FOR THE MONEY AND RESOURCES to bring quality
art into their student’s hands.
So
using materials that I already had surplus of, and a few donations, I managed
to teach the first of what became 13 art classes at two different schools.
This
year I received calls from the same two teachers. They had each been working on Grants and
Award Money and had acquired funding for art lessons: A full day of classes at
one school, and 5 weeks of classes at the other. The purpose of my ArtGAP was becoming clearer and 27 art lessons were put into my
calendar.
Suzanne’s
Studio
Filling the ArtGAP, One Paintbrush at a Time.
May
2016
For 5
weeks Suzanne’s Studio has brought art education and activities to the children
at Buford and Felton Elementary Schools.
Working with the teachers, Suzanne developed 5 lessons to accompany the
current Art Units, aligning with the 2nd grade curriculum and
fulfilling various elements of the course.
The
students learned about the artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Charles
Rennie Mackintosh, and Joan Miro. The
students also learned the history and elements of Talavera Tiles and Pottery
from Puebla, Mexico.
The
children were taught drawing and painting lessons using: Pencils, Watercolors,
Acrylics, Oil Pastels, and Sketch Wash, and learned techniques from basic lines
and shapes, to mixing and applying colors from the color wheel. Each lesson built upon skills from the
previous week, and challenged the young artists to enjoy the experience of
learning and feeling successful.
The final element of the art
experience is the Art Show and Gallery Walk at the end of the 5 week sessions. This year’s show is scheduled for May 25th.
In 2015, Suzanne brought 13 lessons to the students in the
Lennox Elementary Schools. This year,
the courses more than doubled to 27.
Filling the ArtGAP is only
possible through the generosity and dedication of the teachers, the schools, school
districts, and grants, and the contributions from anonymous donations to the
ArtGAP program. The L.E.A.F. program was
a key for this years success.
Whether it’s assisting teachers in the grant application
process, or providing supplemental materials to help the students, Suzanne
Gibson and her studio, is dedicated to the success and accomplishments of the
students.
Throughout the year, Suzanne seeks and helps facilitate
opportunities to provide and fund art events, fundraisers, and classroom activities to encourage the financial and in-kind support of these programs.
To learn more about the various ways you can help please
contact Suzanne’s Studio or the Education Foundation representative in your
school district.
Let’s Fill the
ArtGAP together.
One PaintBrush at
at time!
Thank
you in advance, for your support and encouragement. The work of the children, the smiles on their
faces and the sense of accomplishment speak volumes about the experience
they’ve had with the creative process. The importance of art education in the
classroom only starts here.
Thank
you,
Suzanne
C. Gibson, Art Instructor
Owner,
Suzanne’s Art Studio & ArtGAP Founder
Suzanne Gibson is a private art
studio instructor in the Los Angeles Area.
Building the Gibson Art Program (G.A.P.) will allow Suzanne to continue
to bring art education to ALL STUDENTS regardless of the funding and location
limitations. Suzanne’s Studio is in the
founding stages of building the ArtGAP
as a non-profit arm of her art studio and art instruction business. Your support of this endeavor is appreciated
exponentially.
