P S Art 2016 Exhibition Schedule www.nyc.gov/schools/artseducation

Hidden Sides
David Shi
Grade: 7
School: IS 392, Brooklyn
Art Teacher: Joan Esposito
Pencil, ink, and colored pencil on paper
STUDENT: I can look at a piece of art
and figure out what it symbolizes. I
now see art in everything, not just
drawings, but in the things we use
every day and the buildings we see.
I enjoy art and want to draw more.
My art teacher has helped me to see
the hidden meanings behind what
people draw. This has inspired me
to be creative in my own drawing,
Hidden Sides. I thought about how
I could creatively and thoughtfully
include myself in my artwork. I had
trouble picking the pattern and
color of my turtle shell. I knew that
I didn’t want to make it one solid
color, as this project did reflect
my personality, and I’m a colorful
person. In the end, I used many
colors that were my favorites.
TEACHER: Students viewed images
of ancient Egyptian sculptures as
primary documents, using them to
hypothesize about the culture. They
discussed the Egyptians’ representation
of their gods as part human and part
animal and then thought about their
own personality traits, choosing
different animals to symbolize these
different traits. I was impressed
with David’s approach throughout
the project. He demonstrated great
creativity in a drawing rich with
information and detail even before any
color was applied. David was constantly
making decisions about pattern and
color; he never simply let his mind
rest. His complete engagement in
the entire process made it a highly
rewarding experience not only for him,
but for me, his teacher. His excitement
in his decision-making was infectious.
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