Ms. Bates visited the class and was impressed with the SASHS student designers and the format of the class. In their hour with the illustrator, the students were treated to samples of her work and her thoughts on the illustration process. At the end of the visit, Martin asked Bates if she would be interested in working with the students as an artist-in-residence sometime in the near future. Bates agreed, but there was just one hitch: paying for the program.
Enter the Shippensburg Area School District Foundation’s Mini-Grant. Through the community-funded Foundation, grants of up to $1,000 are awarded to fund innovative learning experiences in the SASD. Martin applied for the grant this past September and was fortunate to have his proposal selected for funding. The funds will be used to compensate Bates, who will spend a school week working on illustration projects, and interacting with students across all classes in the art department, dispensing technical advice and insight into her field, as well as participating in related discussions and critiques.
The Greyhound Children’s Book Project Artist-In-Residence program will begin in early March 2014 and will run for one week.
See Amy June Bates’ work at www.amybates.com
Illustration ©Amy June Bates, courtesy of www.amyjunebates.blogspot.com