This
story
features
a
learning
activity
that
took
place
prior
to
school
closures
due
to
COVID-19.
Master
artist
classes
are
offered
by
the
Center
for
Fine
and
Performing
Arts
(CFPA)
program
at
Charles
J.
Colgan
Sr.
High
School
to
provide
students
with
an
extended
learning
opportunity.
The
figure-drawing
class
was
a
collaboration
with
the
CFPA
dance
program.
Sixteen
student
dancers
held
unique
poses
while
60
student
artists
sat
with
large
drawing
paper
or
sketchbooks
to
draw
the
dancers.
The
artists
practice
their
contour
line
and
figure
drawing,
which
impresses
the
dancers.
Between
poses,
the
artists
show
the
dancers
their
renditions.
"As
personally
observed,
the
dancers
are
enamored
with
seeing
themselves
drawn
by
our
student
artists.
They
are
in
awe
of
their
talent.
So
many
students
draw
differently,
with
their
own
style
and
flair.
They
show
a
variety
of
line
and
form
styles,"
explained
Elizabeth
Byrnes,
fine
arts
teacher.
The
artists
are
equally
impressed
with
the
dancers'
ability
to
hold
unique
poses
as
only
practiced
dancers
could.
Freshman
Christiana
Singson
said,
"Any
chance
I
can
get
to
draw
real
models
and
practice
drawing
skills,
I'll
gladly
sign
up."
Sophomore
Sanai
Williams
shared,
"What
I
like
about
CFPA
master
artist
classes
is
that
I
get
to
experience
drawing
new
things
and
challenging
myself
to
draw
a
wide
variety."
The
artists
used
a
variety
of
mediums
in
their
drawings.
Vine
charcoal,
charcoal
pencil,
red
drawing
chalk,
and
specialized
drawing
art
pencils
were
supplied,
but
some
students
used
Sharpie
markers,
pens,
and
other
writing
tools
they
had
brought
themselves.
Byrnes
added,
"It's
a
beautiful
collaborative
set
of
moments
to
see
the
creations.
Many
student
artists
handed
over
their
drawings
to
the
dancer
they
drew.
This
was
quite
an
honor
for
both
sets
of
students.
They
felt
the
collaboration
together."
The
five
Colgan
High
School
art
teachers
decide
the
focus
of
the
master
artist
classes.
These
after-school
classes
take
place
in
a
smaller
setting
and
allow
students
to
build
on
skills,
have
extra
time
using
various
materials
and
experience
opportunities
that
teachers
are
not
always
able
to
conduct
during
regular
school
hours.
Teachers
host
engaging
activities
that
students
seem
to
have
an
interest
in.
Local
sculptors,
art
college
admission
specialists,
bookmakers,
college
professors
and
mural
artists
are
also
invited
as
guests
to
present
and
teach
students.
The
sessions
are
an
hour-long
and
open
to
all
high
school
grade
levels.
Completing
three
master
artist
classes
is
among
the
CFPA
program
requirements.