Valley Catholic’s reputation for turning out well-rounded students is more than just lip-service:  How many schools do you know that can boast of an Artist-in-Residence?  Valley Catholic High School English teacher Marty Karlin took on the art classes at Valley this school year. She recently arranged for an ALA Notable Book winner, Nancy Coffelt, to bring her unique gifts to our school for a three-day workshop.

Nancy is a writer and illustrator of children’s and young adult books and has been honored with awards from Kirkus Starred Reviews, School Library Journal Starred Review, and a 2008 Mom’s Choice Award.  Her art is primarily oil pastels on black paper.  She has works in galleries nationwide and her clients include Starbucks, The Nature Company, Second Nature Software, Harcourt, Mud Puppy Press, Gango Editions, The Canvas Company and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Valley Catholic High and Junior High students attended lectures on design and composition, as well as working on their own drawings under Nancy’s supervision.  The workshop also focused on color and texture, as well as the layout of the students’ own work and using the border as a visual narrative.

Nancy spoke to students about the steps needed to create characters, stories and illustrations for picture books. She also shared a drawing presentation with students, making sure each class got an original drawing to keep.

-Story Submitted by Jill Pruitt, VCES Parent

Posted by Karen Crandal in Home Page Features, VCHS Features