Welcome to The Gardner School Art Room where young artists experience a myriad of creative hands-on learning! The emphasis in art will be on process, not product, as the students experiment with a broad range of art media and learn about many art methods. For example, the students will have a chance to discover the joys of working with tempera paint, watercolors, clay, colored pencils, oil pastels, collage materials, and printmaking processes. Emphasis will be on exploration, risk-taking, and discovery, not perfect final results.

Beginning in kindergarten and through each medium, Gardner’s young artists will learn about the elements and principles of design. With the younger learners especially, some of this will be introduced informally, with more formal discussions as the students become more sophisticated thinkers and learners. The children will build skills in 2-D and 3-D projects. They will also learn about art and artists from other cultures and from the past. There will be thematic integration with classroom curriculum to foster meaningful connections, and all the projects will be developmentally appropriate.

As the children experiment with different art methods, they work to develop fine motor skills and to use art supplies and tools safely and effectively. Students will also have the opportunity to express themselves through their artwork. They will discover that art is another great way to communicate. As they tap into their spatial intelligence, they will develop the regions of the brain that control creativity and intuition.

Art Class at Gardner fosters the beginning of a lifelong love of the visual arts. Young artists will enjoy creating and discovering as they drip, drop, plop, smear, sketch, and build. It’s a fun, but occasionally sloppy process. Imaginative creations, creativity, independence, and problem solving are encouraged!

Jane Rhomberg is The Gardner School's brilliant art educator. Jane is a champion of children's art. Jane states: "It is the birthright of every child and helps build the foundation for a life-long appreciation of the arts." In Jane's art classes the emphasis is on process, exploration, and discovery. Children are introduced to various artists and the fundamental elements and principles of design. While working in an art studio setting, they are encouraged to experiment with different art methods and materials, to problem-solve, and to use art as another way of expressing thoughts and feelings. There is thematic integration with classroom curriculum to foster meaningful connections, and all the projects are developmentally appropriate.

Jane received her undergraduate degree in art from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. Her post-graduate classes in education were taken at Portland State University. Prior to teaching at The Gardner School, Jane taught art in the Beaverton School District. Jane is married and has three grown children.