Black-Capped Chickadee by Taya, 2nd Grade
In early May, Beverly and I packed our birding books and art supplies and headed to Minto, North Dakota for a 5 -Day Artist in Residency. We taught 157 eager and enthusiastic students each day in grades K-6 .Our focus was sketching and watercoloring birds, modeled after the works of John James Audubon, the greatest bird artist in American history. The Minto children were delightful and very interested in the process of sketching the “easy way” with our method of “see it, feel it, draw it”. Each grade level studied a different bird species. Here are a few samples from each grade level. We were very pleased at every students’ desire to follow instructions and show effort each and every day. After school, we made a few visits to the Minto Park which has Forest River running through it, making it ideal for spring migration birding . Several students joined in to help us find birds such as a Yellow Warbler, American Robins, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and several Palm Warblers. It was a blessing beyond words to work with the students and staff to accomplish our goals for the week: to inspire children to sketch and paint, get outdoors for fresh air and explore the great outdoors, and hopefully, start a lifelong interest in sketching the natural world around them. Thanks to the North Dakota Council on the Arts and Minto Elementary School for providing this fabulous opportunity for us.
Northern Cardinal by Irelyn, 5th Grade
American Robin by Henley, 1st Grade
Dark-Eyed Junco by Edison, Kindergarten
Downy Woodpecker by Owen, 4th Grade
Western Meadowlark by Kalvin, 6th Grade
Blue Jay by Amone’, 3rd Grade