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Kistler brings art to life at St. Charles School
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .St. Charles students Andrew Engartner (left), Ben Trgovcich, Joe Kopp, and Marco DiVincenzo practiced some of their drawing skills before Mark Kistler's Sept. 16 assembly began at their school.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Artist Mark Kistler (right) used an overhead projector to draw and trace his sketches along with the students at his Sept. 16 St. Charles art assembly.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Kistler shared that he learned to draw by tracing and copying some of his favorite artists. To show that anybody can draw, Kistler invited up a group of students to copy his work onto a chalkboard. Admiring his handiwork, budding artist Jack McGlone (far right) moved to add his signature to his drawing.
By SARAH FOOR
St. Charles School art teacher Diane Capple has incorporated the teaching of 3-D artist Mark Kistler into her classes for many years.
“When the kids enter my room and the lights are off and the chairs are turned, they know it’s going to be a drawing day with Mr. Kistler’s instructions and videos,” said Capple.
Capple’s devotion to Kistler’s teaching has made the artist a frequent guest at St. Charles, including his latest visit on Sept. 16, where he taught the kindergarten through eighth-graders the secrets of 3-D drawing.
Kistler has taught drawing techniques for the last 30 years during more than 7,000 school assemblies, and recently won an Emmy Award for his children’s program “Imagination Station.”
“I hope that I can be a spark of inspiration for you. You don’t have to be perfect, but if you’re inspired to keep trying and working hard, then my visit will be worth it,” Kistler said during his program.
Kistler taught the group important drawing concepts like shading, shadow, horizon,and foreshortening, and put the terms to use in four sketches. By the end of the class, each guest had drawn a space scene, a scary fish, a gecko, and magic marshmallows.
Although the focus was drawing, Kistler said he believes art can also nourish self-esteem and help build critical thinking skills.
After Kistler said goodbye to the students, Capple shared that the artist is welcome back to St. Charles any time.
“It’s wonderful for the kids. He’s such a part of my teaching that having Mr. Kistler visit really brings art to life for them,” Capple shared.