Lisa di Liberto
Visual Artist

Artists Statement

Art Teaching Practice

Community Art Instruction

Individual & Private

Teaching Artist in NYC Public Schools

Observation Drawing

Small group of students with instructor

Student pencil drawings on exhibit

Irene’s drawings on exhibit at The University Settlement House, New York, NY

Through Time Bank, I obtained most of the supplies from Materials for the Arts in Long Island City, NY. I found small blank note pads which I distributed to each student. I encouraged them to practice drawing at home by observing anything around them. They were all thrilled to have this extra drawing time. As their confidence grew, everyone looked forward to sharing their drawings each week!

Jin's drawings on exhibit at the University Settlement House in New York, NY

By design, I would set up different still life arrangements in the center of the table students were seated around. As they started drawing I explained that each of their drawings would look different from the person on either side of them because everyone was viewing the still life from a different angle.

In this photograph, I am introducing students how to think about shapes, forms and perspective before they start drawing.
(I am standing to the left of a seated student pointing to her drawing.)

Sui’s drawings on exhibit at The University Settlement House, New York, NY

After the four weeks ended, the TimeBank activities manager coordinated an exhibit of the students work to correspond with a community potluck dinner held at the University Settlement House in New York, NY.
My students hung their own work with my guidance in the space we were allotted.
Sui volunteered to work for the potluck dinner, so when she saw her drawings displayed on one of the walls, she was so proud!

Marguerite's drawings on exhibit at the University Settlement House in New York, NY

Marguerite was in the class for about two weeks. She loved art and was always admiring it. She thought it was time to learn how to draw.

In this image, I am standing up towards the far end of the table, leaning towards a students sketch pad.
I was presenting techniques to think about how to organize the objects in the still life as they started to draw. I made use of a dry erase board in the class to share technical information and encouraged my students to take notes and ask questions.

Tai’s drawings on exhibit at The University Settlement House, New York, NY

Tai already knew how to draw and paint. He expressed to me that he never experienced how to draw the way I was teaching it and enjoyed learning about observation drawing.

Wai's drawings on exhibit at The University Settlement House, New York, NY

Wai brought her enthusiasm to our classroom and learned how to draw for the first time.
After this exhibit and student feedback, I accepted an invitation from the TimeBank activity manager to teach another 4 weeks of drawing.

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