Clarkston art teacher Jessica Hall was one of 30 art teachers from around the world illustrating the new children’s book, ‘If Picasso Had a Christmas Tree.?
Her piece emulates the classic painting ‘Birth of Venus? by Sandro Botticelli, with a Christmas tree in place of the newborn Venus.
‘I chose Botticelli as a challenge,? Hall said. ‘My painting is acrylic on canvas, and the original is in oil. Matching the colors was very interesting.?
Author Eric Gibbons began the project several years ago, and collaborates with art teachers from elementary to high school with the help of social media. His poems accompanies and reflects each artist’s work and style, from the Renaissance to modern genres.
Firehouse Publications also includes a link in the book to a webpage where teachers and parents can download and print lesson plans to extend learning in the classroom or home school.
Lessons include study, observation, experimentation, revision, internalization, syntheses, problem solving, and creation, crossing curricular boundaries into history, science, literature, and engineering.
‘The link to lesson plans is cool,? Hall said. ‘It’s great for kids, parents, grandparents, families, all ages.?
Hall grew up in Rochester, earning her undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University and Master’s degree in art education from Wayne State University.
She is in her 11th year teaching at Renaissance High School.
‘I student taught at Clarkston High School and taught summer school at Renaissance ? they contacted me about starting an art program there,? she said. ‘I really like the district.?
She is the Fine Arts Subject Area coordinator for Clarkston Community Schools, working to align art curriculum with state Common Core standards and the district’s Culture of Thinking.
‘Art is where it all starts,? she said.
She lives in Oakland Township with her husband Billy and their kids, Hendrix and Lawson.
‘If Picasso Had a Christmas Tree? is featured at the Detroit Institute of Arts museum shop, www.diashop.org/servlet/the-Holiday/Categories, and can be purchased on Amazon.
For more information visit ‘www.firehousepublications.com.