Advanced painting students incorporating techniques of influential women artists

As March approaches, a group of dedicated young artists in the advanced painting class are channeling their creativity into a meaningful celebration of International Women’s History Month. Their project aims to highlight influential women in art by researching female artists and incorporating their styles and techniques into original works.

Art teacher Emily Olson said, “The only rules for this assignment are that students must use either acrylic or watercolor paint and apply at least two of the six painting techniques we’ve studied in class. They must also create a piece of art about a woman who is meaningful to them, using the style of a female artist. Beyond that, it’s up to them and their creativity.”

Among the students embracing this challenge is junior artist Tula Greule, who chose Kathy Saucier as her inspiration. “I was drawn to Saucier’s collage style, where she layers colored paper and newspaper with vibrant colors,” Tula said. “For my piece, I wanted to incorporate women’s empowerment, so I designed a silhouette of a girl surrounded by words of encouragement.”

Greule carefully considered art principles such as tints, shades, tones and textures while integrating Saucier’s unique collage approach. “I ripped up pieces of black paper to create the face and figure, then glued them together, just like in my inspiration piece,” she said. “For the painting techniques, I used stippling, creating different-sized dots in various colors with cotton balls to form the subject’s hair, which I believe is the main focal point of the painting.”

The most challenging part for Greule was defining the letters in the background. “I originally tried using paint markers, but the words didn’t stand out enough,” she said. “In the end, I wrote them on white paper, cut them out and glued them on as a finishing touch.”

Reflecting on the deeper meaning behind her work, Greule said, “The meaning behind this piece is women’s equality. The silhouette of the woman with colorful hair, along with the words in the background, symbolize empowerment. This piece was inspired by Kathy Saucier’s collaging technique, and I hope viewers feel a sense of pride when they see it. I want them to think about equality from a girl’s or woman’s perspective. Happy International Women’s Month!”

As for what the teacher hopes students take away from this project, Olson emphasized the importance of artistic expression and historical appreciation. “I want my students to recognize the impact of women in art and beyond. By exploring different artists and their techniques, they’re not only developing their own skills but also telling important stories through their work.

Greule’s dedication and artistic vision have not gone unnoticed since she choose to have her piece displayed throughout the month of March at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls in honor of Women’s History Month. Greule said, “I hope that when people see it, they feel inspired and think about the importance of representation and empowerment. It’s amazing to know that my art will be part of something bigger this Women’s History Month.”