Michelle+Meeks+-+Teaching+Art+to+a+Young+Adult

** By Michelle Meeks **
 * Art with a Young Adult **

I do not have access to a class of students. I met with a young man I’ve been working with in the Instructional Techniques class who is also a volunteer at the bookstore where I work. He is a Native American, male, 16 years old and reads at a 7th grade level. He loves comics, graphic novels and art. When we discussed the non-fiction types we talked about the photography of the National Geographic. This led us to talk about books in the bookstore, which led us to talk about the children’s picture books, specifically a book called Leonardo da Vinci: Dreams, Schemes, and Flying Machines.

I asked Zed if he would like to look at art books and discuss art. He immediately said he did not want to look at old art. I explained that he must know some of the classics before he can have an appreciation for the new art – specifically comics and manga. He agreed.

When we met, I introduced Zed to all of the books below. We began by looking at The Masters such as daVinci, Rembrandt, and Monet. From here, we explored Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Georgia O’Keefe. We ended looking at the books on drawing comics and manga.

After we explored the books, we went online together and looked at the websites of some of the great museums. Zed has never been to the Heard Museum even though he works a few blocks away. We visiting this website and the website of the Smithsonian where he could explore all of the Smithsonian museums. Lastly, I shared the Digital Comic Museum. This is a unique website where you can search for comics to see if they have been scanned. If they have, you can view the comic.

Overall, we had a nice, if not informal lesson. Zed expressed that he learned about art and even liked learning about the masters.

One other point I would like to make is how wonderful picture books can be in working with a young adult. Do not be fooled by picture books – especially non-fiction. There are many that are not only beautiful but also require a high level of reading skill.

// Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters // (2010) MaryAnn Kohl, Kim Solga: Bright Ring Publishing This book has biographies and activities that cover the great artists. (No reading Lexile could be found.)

// Fabulous! A Portrait of Andy Warhol // (2011) Bonnie Christensen: Henry Holt and Company (Lexile 710L) This is a picture book autobiography about Andy Warhol. It includes pictures of his art and his life.

// Art Up Close From Ancient to Modern // (2000) Claire d’Harcourt: Chronicle Books LLC (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) This is a unique book that has several different large drawings from famous artists. Readers are asked to locate small parts of the art. The book is very interactive and includes information about each artist and painting.

// Leonardo daVinci: Dreams, Schemes and Flying Machines // (2000) Heize Kaehne: Prestel Publishing (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) This books shows all of the daVinci’s marvels. Including his drawings, writings, and inventions. It is a different look at the artist.

// Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley – 30 Drawing Lessons from the Creator of Akiko // (2012) Mark Crilley: IMPACT (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) This is a how-to guide for students to learn how to draw Manga.

// How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way // (1984) Stan Lee, John Buscema: Touchstone (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) How-to book on how comics are drawn. The main draw is that the book is co-written by Stan Lee.

// 13 Artists Children Should Know // (2009) Angela Wenzel: Prestel (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) This is one book in a series of books about art and artists. This book focuses on the masters and their art.

// The Art Book for Children // (2005) Editors of Phaidon Press: Phaidon Press (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) This is a picture book that has pictures of art and information about the painting and artist. It is a fun book to just sit and look at.

// Frida Kahlo – The Artists Who Painted Herself // (2003) Margaret Frith and Tomie dePaola: Grosset & Dunlap (No reading Lexile could be found for this book.) A colorful biography about Frida Kahlo. It discusses her paintings and life in Mexico.

// My Name is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeannette Winter // (2003) Jeannette Winter: HMH for Young Readers (Lexile AD580L) This is a nice picture book about Georgia O’Keefe. It discusses her life and time in New Mexico.

//Drawing on the right side of the brain: the definitive, 4th edition// (2012). Betty Edwards. New York, NY: Penguin Group. This is wonderful book to teach anyone to draw by utilizing the right side of the brain. (Lori Weinmeister)

Websites National gallery of art [|www.nga.gov]

Metropolitan Museum of Art [|www.metmuseum.org]

The Digital Comic Museum [|www.digitalcomicmuseum.com]

Smithsonian [|www.si.edu]

Heard Museum [|www.heard.org]