Sheri Lawrence is an artist, illustrator and educator who spent this week visiting with St. Mary School fourth- and fifth-grade classes. Her…
Visiting Artist Enriches Classes
Sheri Lawrence is an artist, illustrator and educator who spent this week visiting with St. Mary School fourth- and fifth-grade classes. Her goal is not only to help students create an inspired painting, but also to expose them to what careers exist in the arts all around them. From graphic design to filmmaking and drama to art therapy, if students are artistically inclined, Sheri emphasized all the different paths a career in art can take.
Principal Mary Petelin said, “It opened a whole new door to kids who have artistic strengths.”
Students have been focused and tuned in to this new exploration. The classes are studying Edward Hopper, a Lake Erie painter. In their paintings, students are investigating the contrast of light and dark, shading and water movement. At the end of the unit, each student will create a stretched canvas piece of his or her own inspired by Lake Erie.
Sheri Lawrence believes that students’ exposure to art is a vital component of their educational experience and that cultivating creativity and problem solving through the arts is vital for all students in meeting the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Sheri works predominately in the painting mediums and experiments with chalk and oil. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbus College of Art and Design, where she studied illustration and her Master of Arts in visual art education from Ursuline College.
St. Mary School is looking to continue and expand the visiting artist program in addition to its weekly art instruction and curriculum.
