Do you know about the fabulous Gwendolyn Bennet, a female poet, writer, journalist and activist during the Harlem Renaissance? Did you know that Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the first woman to be nominated for Poet Laureate (although it was 159 more years before the first woman was elected)? Maybe you would enjoy learning about some contemporary poets of today, such as Amanda Gorman, the first African-American National Youth Poet Laureate.

In this class we will combine art and poetry by compiling our very own journal of paintings, sketches and poems. During the course, a pre-recorded video will be posted weekly to discuss a poem, its writer and any pertinent background information. In the video, I will also demonstrate my painting and offer ideas, suggestions and various techniques, but your learner may choose to paint whatever they like to represent the poem of the week. They will be encouraged to copy the poem as well, which will result in their very own journal of poetry and art. 

After watching the video and completing their own paintings, students are asked to share it by posting a picture in the classroom for us to admire! They will also be asked to reflect on the poem and answer 3 questions about the subject. The questions can be printed out and submitted as an attachment, or students can type out their answers and attach the photo of their painting to the comment. The questions are simple and reflective; there are no wrong answers, and the focus will be on how the poem made them feel, what they liked or disliked about it, and what their perspective is on the subject. 

Students will also be asked to participate in a "scavenger hunt" to find another poem by the same poet and recommend it for fellow students to read. This is a great opportunity to do more research on the poet and discuss some of their other works with your fellow classmates.

This course is a great way to introduce young learners to poetry and fine arts. Students who have taken classes in my Painting Poetry series may be familiar with the process of reading a poem and painting a scene inspired by the poem. This course is a self-paced version that will allow each student to progress alongside fellow classmates every week and to begin a portfolio of art.

My art classes focus on self-expression rather than solely technique and painting skills. A large emphasis is made on the design and concept of the piece, and the process of creation, rather that the finished product only. Because of this, artists of all skill levels can feel confident creating their artwork. Learners are welcome to follow along with my art tutorial, but they are also encouraged to edit, adjust or create something completely different and unique!