Documenting student work from my first year teaching at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep on the far south side of Chicago. Artwork shown is a selection from 7th grade Art Experience, Art 1, Sculpture 1, Drawing & Painting 1, 2 and AP.
We're Grown Here Too
Former student Kalief Dinkins along with his organization Contextos reached out to collaborate with current students to develop and paint a legacy project for the school.
Ms. Calderon’s C day seminars and art classes worked to paint each letter alongside Kalief and Ms. Calderon during the Spring 2026 semester.
See the finished work HERE!
Classroom whiteboard
A snapshot in the classroom where lesson examples for Art 1, Sculpture 1, and Drawing & Painting can be seen alongside inspirational artist posters and previous years work.
Abstract Compositions
Introductory project with my Drawing students to get them to think outside of the box immediately and not be concerned with their artwork having "to look like anything."
Art 1 Oil Pastel Grid
Scratch Art
Students researched and recreated images of endangered species using scratch art techniques.
Colored Pencil Portraits
Students created portraits of someone important to them using colored pencils, then balanced their work with painted patterned backgrounds.
Painted Portraits
Drawing & Painting students explored mixing skin tones and neutrals to create personal portraits depicting someone of importance to them.
Acrylic on canvas board
9” x 12”
2026
After Boris Nzebo
Students explored layering, line and color through the work of artist Boris Nzebo and emulated his style with subject matter of their own.
Acrylic paint on paper
12” x 12”
One Point Perspective Rooms
Art 1 utilized perspective and collage to create unique rooms.
10” x 10”
2026
Sculpture Plaster Portraits
Assignment: create whimsical characters out of plaster complete with a quirky frame.
2026
Group Grid
Art 1 worked together to recreate an iconic mural for display in the hallway after the artist Hebru Brantley.
Oil pastel on paper
2025
Basquiat Portraits
Students explored color and abstraction through the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Acrylic, pastel on cardboard
Appropriation
Students chose and researched a famous work of art then emulated specific details and styles in their own appropriation painting using acrylic paint while also completing artist statements and sharing their work with their peers discussing the similarities and differences of each piece.
Personal Still Life
Students collected several items that represent themselves at the beginning of the year. They then pinned, taped and clipped their items to a board and drew from observation using various pencils on paper. To finish the piece, students designed a frame to correspond with their drawings to add a pop of contrast to the black and white drawings.
Paper Sculptures
Students utilized paper and magazines to either roll, curl, or fold and create 60 forms arranged in either a relief or in-the-round sculpture in a chosen color scheme. As the last project of the year, students are afforded lots of choice and put their knowledge of the elements of art and principles of design to the test!
Self Portrait
Art 1 students utilized the grid method to create larger than life self-portraits with collaged backgrounds.
pencil on paper, collage
11” x 14”
Repetition
Students explored space, line and shape using 100 coffee stirrers to create geometric abstract sculptures in the round.
Movement
Students experimented with exaggeration and movement by molding foil and tape to create figural sculptures.
Giant Junk Food
Students explored proportion and paper mâché by scaling up beloved junk food items, choosing to replicate or parody their work.
