Tuesday, April 23, 2024
IN DEMAND: Artist Linda Christensen — known as”Mrs. C”— is pictured with her homeschooling art class students (from left) Elizabeth Jennings, Allie Herbold, Caleb Henson, Jadon Crowder, Madeline Sweet, Isabella Crowder and Abigail Beatty.
Gloria Lee Hood is a Granbury artist and publisher for The Eyes of Texas Fine Art Gallery art magazine.
Ask artist Linda Christiansen what she enjoys most bout teaching art to children, and her smile says it all. With more than 20 years teaching art classes both privately and through workshops, her students past and present affectionately call her Mrs. C. Her inspiration comes from seeing the sparkle of excitement in the students and the accomplishment in creating individual art.
It was a personal choice for Mrs. C to begin teaching art, and her dasses became in demand with art programs being cut from school curriculum. This led her to offer summer workshops.
Her classes adapt to all levels of young artists, offering a variety of tools and mediums from which to choose. She emphasizes proper brush technique, primary and secondary colors, and starting with a focal point. Her mantra is “Good, better, best, never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”
Parents are seeing the evidence of this affirmation. Student Abigail Beatty expressed how Mrs. C takes time to teach new techniques, and she is becoming a better artist.
Student Elizabeth likes the calming effect of creating art. Her mother, Debra Jennings, agrees that even students who struggle with drawing get excited when they see what they can create with some instruction.
Parent Shari Henson has noticed her son, Caleb, has more confidence and improved comprehension. And parent Jenifer Crowder, sees the benefit of art classes with her son, Jadon, and daughter, Isabella, both appreciating the creativity and challenge of learning new things.
If there is one thing Mrs. C would stress, it is to not be quick to dismiss the arts; it is a window to see things differently. She would also encourage local artists to follow her footsteps, and share the gap of educating our young students in art.
Christensen teaches emerging young artists K-12 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Lakeside Baptist Academy, plus additional art classes on Thursdays at the Shanley House Gallery.
She is also a featured artist in “The Eyes of Texas Fine Art Gallery” art magazine, Volume One. www.theeyesoftexasfineart.com.
ART IS ALIVE!
The 2021 Parker County Peach Festival Art Show is an annual open show for all ages, with student categories K-12.
This open show is an excellent opportunity for young artists to exhibit their art.
It’s sponsored by the Weatherford Art Association. June dates are yet to be announced.
Guest writer: Christine Leftwich M.Ed. contributed to this article. She is a teacher of mathematics and business courses. Christine.leftwich@gmail.corn
gloria@eyesoftxfineart.com / 817-637-0545
