Paying it Forward-Giving Back - Elizabeth St. Hilaire

My first painting, age five, Westfield, MA ©St. Hilaire family archives

Remembering

When I was only five years old, I knew I loved art. Art made me happy, gave me confidence, and filled my heart. When this wonderful story from an elementary school teacher from Texas came to my in-box, I began reflecting on my own childhood and how primary school art teachers inspired me. Of course I was tickled when Rhonda told me that I inspired her students.

I love my job.

The kids are inspired by my Nesting Robin print from Pier 1 Imports

The kids study and draw from my artwork. ©Rhonda Hooper

Future Fine Artists

Rhonda purchased my Curious Bird Art print from Pier 1 Importsfor her students to use as inspiration, she brought it to her classroom and kept him under cover for a while, trying to build some suspense for the kids. This resourceful teacher looked me up online and then reached out to me via email. We started chatting back and forth, as I was very interested in Rhonda’s story about how she was using my art to inspire her second graders. The whole scenario reminded me of my early artistic years at Moseley Elementary School and my beloved art teacher Miss Zombeck.

Rhonda was supposed to take my Paper Paintings Collage Workshop in New Braunfels, TX this summer. The Art League is only two hours from her home and her daughter actually lives in New Braunfels, it seemed like a slam dunk. Rhonda got the amazing news that her husband’s son and his wife were expecting their second baby the end of July. She explained to me that they would have to make the trek to South Carolina the first part of August to meet this new bundle of joy, just before Rhonda started back to work in September. Rhonda went on to say that this very special baby announcement came at Christmas, and it dawned on her, “Oh, no! My workshop with Elizabeth!!!”

These things happen.

Rhonda and I stayed in touch as she had a project in mind for the kids that involved me, my artwork, and the Curious Bird Art. I told Rhonda that I’d love to share her story on my blog and she said that the kids were just over the moon excited!!

Starting with a sketch. ©Rhonda Hooper

Gluing the sketch. ©Rhonda Hooper

Getting down with the glitter and glue ©Rhonda Hopper

Adding the collage scraps, glitter, and glue ©Rhonda Hopper

Who’s Who

Who’s Who: A Study of Biography is a unit to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for second graders. Who’s Who is an English language arts and social studies unit that allows students to explore and gain knowledge about famous people and how they use their gifts and talents.Who’s Who also has interdisciplinary connections to mathematics and science. For example, students will discuss attributes of famous people by category, allowing them to use patterns to describe relationships and make predictions, as described in the Mathematics TEKS. They will also use information and critical thinking to make decisions, as described in the Science TEKS. The following document includes the applicable TEKS and the details of the Who’s Who unit. The final section of this document presents the applicable Texas College and Career Readiness Standards adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) on January 24, 2008.

Rhonda used the project with her kids to stimulate the 4 C’s in Gifted and Talented education, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. These skills are necessary in “the real world of the 21st century,” so she explained that her job was to provide challenging activities to help the students develop in these areas.

Rhonda shared with me that “During the project, they studied several artists, including YOU and your paper paintings! We read your profile and watched your videos on your website and blog, and I did extra “research” on your Facebook page that I shared with the kiddos in order to study your biography.”

These students are Rhonda’s 2nd Grade Talent Pool/Gifted and Talented students from Nursery Elementary School (Nursery, TX, 2 hours south of San Antonio).

Nesting Robin, Curious Bird, Funny Bird, this guy’s had several aliases. Art ©St-Hilaire

The Project

The kids first studied “Funny Bird” and we discussed how you made the paper painting, based on the video you sent us on DVD, and the videos on your website and YouTube.

The kids started with a pencil drawing the bird, then added glue and glitter, finally collaging with paper, and then sealing the art with Mod Podge.

Sealing the project with a final coat of Modge Podge. ©Rhonda Hooper

The kiddo's art work drying in the sun. ©Rhonda Hopper

Giving Back

What a wonderful feeling it is to know that you are inspiring a love of art in such young students, and that they were so excited about it. I thanked Rhonda for sharing her story with me and her reaction was,

I want to sincerely thank you for wanting to promote the arts in schools, as well as gifted education, on your blog and/or FB page!

With fond regard,

Rhonda Hooper

The Funny Bird in good company. ©Rhonda Hopper

"Hope II" Emily Dickinson Inspired. ©St-Hilaire

Connect with Me

For a complete listing of Paper Paintings WORKSHOPS
To take my Collage Workshop ONLINE
To Join me for an ITALY WORKSHOP this June
To Purchase Collage BOOKS and DVDs