Alyssa Aune

218-689-2252

allangaas@gmail.com

Facebook @Art with Alyssa or Instagram @alyssaaunephoto

Gatzke

Artist Alyssa Aune lives near Gatzke and offers

visual art residencies

Alyssa Aune has taught residencies at area elementary schools and is happy to teach lessons that use oil, pastels, chalks, watercolors, mixed media and other materials. Her favorite medium to use is watercolor because it’s simple to prepare, easy to clean up, and the kids love to paint. Many of her lessons focus on an animal, or some type of landscape.

She lives near Gatzke and has been involved in the arts ever since she could hold a pencil. Alyssa drew throughout her childhood and took as many art classes as she could, as well as competing in 4H with her art projects. She also took acrylic painting lessons throughout middle school and high school. Alyssa has a Public Relations & Advertising Degree from NDSU and an Elementary Education Degree from Bemidji State. She has operated a photography business for 10 years and takes photos for families, seniors, engagements, weddings, as well as equine photos. She also sells portraits of cows and horses on Etsy. She has subbed at area schools and pursues art teaching endeavors. She enjoys teaching lessons to elementary-aged kids, but especially the arts. She realized that many area schools either lost their art teachers or never had one in the first place.

In her free time, Alyssa enjoys being outside with her horses, relaxing with family, taking photos, and, of course painting and drawing.

“To have art offered all throughout my elementary, middle school, and high school career was a wonderful part of my school experience. What a treat it was to dabble in clay, painting, drawing, and mixed media. I couldn’t fathom not having that in school. Being available to do art residencies at elementary schools feels impactful, especially for those schools that do not have an art teacher. The kids are incredibly grateful.”

— Alyssa Aune

Project Example “Horses”

Overview of Residency: Project Example - “Horses”

Age/Grade Level: 4th-6th

Length of residency: 2 sessions of one hour class periods

Supplies Needed: Cardboard 12x12 piece for each kid, utility scissors, acrylic paints, brushes, yarn, pipe cleaners, hot glue, sharpie markers.

Objective - Students will create a horse head out of cardboard. Each horse can be unique to them whether based off a real life horse, or a carousel horse. “Variety” will be the theme/art word for the lesson because in the end there will be a variety of horses to display.

Day 1 - Students will watch a slideshow that covers horse breeds, horse colors, markings, and more. Alyssa will draw a horse head example on the board as an example. Students will draw on their cardboard piece. Once drawn, students will cut out their horse head piece. Once cut out, students will paint at least 1 coat of acrylic on the entire horse. If time allows some students may be able to apply a second coat or add a different color for spots/patches.

Day 2 - Horses should be dry and students can continue adding details with markers, paints, or some can begin to add bridles and halters with yarn and pipe cleaners. Some students may need assistance with braiding and cutting yarn for the mane. Alyssa will also assist with hot gluing objects onto the horses and also a hanger. Once students complete the horse they can write their artist statement. The teacher will show an example on the board. Students can answer questions such as What did they create?Why did they create it? How did you create it? What materials did you use? What’s your favorite part of your horse?

Once everything is completed, students can hang their horse in the hallway along with their statement.

Other Residencies

Length and # of sessions: Up to 10 days for K - 5 instruction rotating between each classroom. K - 2 has their own project, and Grades 3 - 5 has a different project.

Title and content: This can vary based on a school’s request. Most often Alyssa can spend the entire school day with the elementary, but rotate between classrooms for approximately 45 min - 1 hour sessions. Some sessions can be 1 day projects; some may take 2 sessions.

Sessions can be watercolor, oil pastels, chalks, mixed media, or other. Alyssa can try and use up what the school already has on hand. If a school needs recommendations on what to order, she can send a supply list, which often includes watercolor brushes, watercolor palettes, watercolor paper 12x18 90lbs, oil pastels, colored chalk, and construction paper. Upon completion, projects can be hung in the hallways for display.

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best". - Henry Van Dyke

Email Alyssa