Sunday Student Artist Spotlight: Melissa K.!

This week's Student Artist Spotlight is Melissa K.!

Melissa is an 8th grader at Buena Regional Middle School in Buena, NJ. Her art teacher is Liza Schlienger.

In regards to her Journey Though Art, Melissa writes, " I am 14 years old and have been involved in many different types of art styles throughout my life. My journey began at the age of 5 years old when I started drawing small tiny pictures on the walls in my house. Some of the pictures still exist to this day on the walls of my home. After drawing on the walls, my parents decided to find an art class where I could learn, improve, and express myself through my artwork. My parents eventually finally found an Art Studio that had different age and skill levels to start my possible career. Since my first lesson, I have learned many things over the years and enjoyed my instructors. I am still attending the same Art Studio class with the kids that I started with. I have been involved with the “The Barn Art Studio” for almost 8 years now. Since joining the art studio, I have learned many different forms of art and the history behind it. In the future I hope to experience more styles of art. With the support of my family and friends I wish to continue to pursue my art career. In particular my mom and dad have been very supportive by encouraging me to chase any opportunity given to me, and have supplied me with the tools needed to do so. Not to mention I have been inspired by my art teacher at school, instructors at the studio, and my peers to keep progressing my own art style. 

Despite starting art at a young age, I realize that I still have a lot to learn. The art world has so many different styles of works from the past and present for me to discover. I hope to pick up these types of art styles as I continue my art journey. By grasping these new techniques I hope to one day be a bigger person in the art community. Either way I will continue making sketches, painting, and charcoal drawings because that’s what got me started down this path."

Congratulations, Melissa!

If you would like to recognize your student artist for our spotlight segment, please fill out the google form: https://forms.gle/3mnwMBoVJoaqbuph6

Happy State YAM Saturday!

Happy State YAM Saturday! On March 6, we celebrated some of our most talented students at our Youth Art Month Receptions in Trenton. Here are some images from the State YAM Reception and Exhibition that we were fortunate enough to have celebrated before the pandemic affected many of our Youth Art Month celebrations. A tremendous thank you to photographer Andrew James Irving for joining us, and for making these wonderful memories possible! Please check back next week for more pictures!

Sunday Student Artist Spotlight: Chloe B.!

This week's Student Artist Spotlight is Chloe B.!

Chloe is an 8th grader at Academy 1 in Jersey City. Her art teacher is Martha Garcia.

In regards to her Journey Though Art, Chloe writes, ""I love to draw and create different kinds of art! Art is my happy place."

Congratulations, Chloe!

If you would like to recognize your student artist for our spotlight segment, please fill out the google form: https://forms.gle/3mnwMBoVJoaqbuph6

Happy State YAM Saturday!

Happy State YAM Saturday! On March 6, we celebrated some of our most talented students at our Youth Art Month Receptions in Trenton. Here are some images from the State YAM Reception and Exhibition that we were fortunate enough to have celebrated before the pandemic affected many of our Youth Art Month celebrations. A tremendous thank you to photographer Andrew James Irving for joining us, and for making these wonderful memories possible! Please check back next week for more pictures!

Students from Different Districts/Subjects Collaborate to Create Virtual Art Collection

Our latest YAM Participation Post comes from Kelly Wenz. Kelly is an art teacher at Emerson Middle School in Union City, NJ, and volunteers as AENJ's Hudson County YAM Chair.

Kelly writes, "Middle School art students in Union City have been challenged to respond to daily prompts in the medium of their choice to create a virtual QuarantART collection. Students submit drafts, and revisions are made via Google Classroom exchanges and zoom conferences. We have also teamed up with Ms. Jessica Katz of the Paterson School District so that AP English students can contribute writing to pair up with the artwork submissions. With many students working hard to finish their creations, we are also now extending the invitation for staff to participate as well."

You can check out the website here: https://padlet.com/kwenz/p3j8qqhoj6pl63vm

Congratulations Kelly and the art students of Emerson Middle School in Union City, NJ!  Congratulations Jessica and the students of the Paterson Public School District!

How are you celebrating Youth Art Month? What special events are you hosting in your classroom, school, or district? Are you planning any art activities within your community? Are you hosting any art-related PD sessions for your colleagues? Are you currently planning an art show for parents? We want to recognize you and your accomplishments! Please let us know how you celebrate/observe Youth Art Month by completing this google form: https://forms.gle/tYhTWjPxKaZ76os47

What events have you facilitated digitally, or online, as a result of this new way of life? We would love to know! Your participation is greatly appreciated! Please fill out this google form to share your news: https://forms.gle/KcjmMtDDFaowF8ST6

Check back to our blog: https://yamnj.blogspot.com/ and IG to see if your event is featured!

Sunday Student Artist Spotlight: Brina T.!

This week's Student Artist Spotlight is Brina T.!

Brina is a 10th grader at Wood-Ridge Junior/Senior High School in Wood-Ridge.  Her art teacher is Catherine Bethon.

In regards to her Journey Though Art, Brina writes, "In my 7th-grade art class, we had to do weekly observational sketches. I looked up reference pictures and saw beautiful artwork that made my jaw drop. I really wanted to draw like them, so I picked up my Ticonderoga pencil and proceeded to copy the art I saw before me. When I did these observational sketches, I knew they were terrible. I would get frustrated and would want to give up because it didn’t look the way other artists drew their art. My mother told me to never give up because talented artists weren’t talented from the womb; they had to work for it. I knew she was right and eventually, I improved my skills by practicing a lot. I thought of art as a class before, but seeing art in a whole new light has made me realize that art isn’t just about drawing pretty things, but it is about depicting meaningful things expressed through paint on a canvas or clay on a silver stand. I created an Instagram account (@brinasketches) that summer to post my works and to document my progress and journey. When I went to art museums whether it be in New York or Greece, I started to appreciate every piece of art, especially those that were not “aesthetically pleasing” because they too have a story to tell. Last summer, I held a painting class at my town’s civic center which was really inspiring because I got to learn more about people’s interest in art. Out of the many mediums I’ve tried such as charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, graphite, pastel, etc., color pencils are my favorite medium and I love drawing realism. I'm still learning and I can't wait to continue my art journey!"

Congratulations, Brina!

If you would like to recognize your student artist for our spotlight segment, please fill out the google form: https://forms.gle/3mnwMBoVJoaqbuph6

Happy State YAM Saturday!

Happy State YAM Saturday! On March 6, we celebrated some of our most talented students at our Youth Art Month Receptions in Trenton. Here are some images from the State YAM Reception and Exhibition that we were fortunate enough to have celebrated before the pandemic affected many of our Youth Art Month celebrations. A tremendous thank you to photographer Andrew James Irving for joining us, and for making these wonderful memories possible! Please check back next week for more pictures!

Sunday Student Artist Spotlight: Chancez F.!

This week's Student Artist Spotlight is Chancez F.!

Chancez is a 12th grader at Mastery Charter High School in Camden.  Her art teacher is Laura Cain.

In regards to her Journey Though Art, Chancez writes. "Art is my talent that no one knows or sees when they look at me because I don’t really show it unless I need to. It all started when I was young, I always liked to draw and color things. I achieved certificates for art in like third-seventh grade. In seventh grade I won an art contest at my community center against other community centers also I won a hundred dollar gift card. Art helps me calm down and stay focused. When I have a lot on my mind I start to draw things to get my mind off it or just so I won’t overthink. I really don’t like expressing myself because no one understands me so I use art as a therapy in place of talking. Art is just like life because in life you step away from things and meditate or refocuses, taking a deep breath.When I am bored and don’t have nothing else to do, I start drawing and putting the pieces together. Even when I am done my artwork I feel accomplished but there's always more to do, I tend to go back, change things around and add more designs. In life you are proud of what you accomplished as an individual but also knowing you have to do more. From my perspective it ain’t really easy, you have to work for whatever you want, even if you did it once, doesn’t mean it will be easier the second or third time. I have been getting honor roll for years but that doesn’t mean anything, Now that I am in the twelfth grade it’s harder but I have to push myself not only because I know I can do it but for myself, and I want it. I been getting honor roll so why stop now?"

Congratulations, Chancez!

If you would like to recognize your student artist for our spotlight segment, please fill out the google form: https://forms.gle/3mnwMBoVJoaqbuph6