Student Work

It was a pleasure to teach a hands-on FLAG BOOKmaking workshop for fifth-graders at the Silverlake Independent JCC, my fifth year doing so! (Or is it my 6th?!)
The fifth-graders were receptive, energetic and creative!

Up the Down Road of Surrealism with Dali!

November 21, 2022 By Debra Disman

In our “Making Art Inspired by Great Artists” CREST Enrichment class,
students are inspired by the Surealist Artist Salvador Dalí!

Students in grades TK- 5th learned about Surrealism, and how to use perspective, scale,
horizon lines and vanishing points to show space and distance, then developed their compositions into surrealistic scenes adding images from magazines to create focal points and a sense of layering.

Creativity abounds with these kindergarteners through fifth-graders!
Each travelled their own road through the project, as they will continue to do in Life.

Keeping the Faith…Making Art Inspired by Great Artist Faith Ringgold

January 24, 2022 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to be teaching MAKING ART INSPIRED BY GREAT ARTISTS at Franklin and Roosevelt Schools in the Santa Monica Public School System through the CREST Enrichment program.

After a span of two years, teaching live and in-person is exciting and energizing. The students are enthusiastic, helpful and creative and IMAGINATIVE and the parents and staff supportive and engaged.

Everyone is working together to make in-person teaching a safe and rewarding experience. Despite the challenges and great energy required, what fun to see these young artists exercise their imaginations, play, learn and create!

Students responded positively to our “Story Quilt” project, inspired by the Great Artist, Faith Ringgold.
Put cloth in their hands, and away they go!
Students draw an idea for their fabric “story, then begin working on felt with cloth pieces that are glued into place.

Imaginative use of the materials is the intuitive order of the day.

The stories begin to emerge.

Joyous play and exploration of fabrics, cloth scrap and tactile textiles!

Teaching Artistry Live and In-Person!

January 11, 2022 By Debra Disman

Even in these times, it is wonderful to get back to live, in-person teaching!

Teaching classes outside at Santa Monica Public Schools, through the CREST Enrichment program, after a span of two years, is exciting and energizing. The students are enthusiastic, helpful and creative, the parents and staff supportive and engaged.

Everyone is working together to make in-person teaching a safe and rewarding experience.

I am teaching MAKING ART INSPIRED BY GREAT Artists at Franklin and Roosevelt Schools in the afternoon, and MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKS! at ROOSEVELT SCHOOL first thing in the morning. Despite the challenges and great energy required, what fun to see these young artists exercise their imaginations, play, learn and create!

Students work outdoors to create personal frames for their Frida Kahlo-inspired self-portrait projects.

How they design the frames may communicate as much about them as their self-portraits inside them will.

Even the backpacks are works of art!

In our MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKS! class students learn the accordion fold book structure,

and begin developing their books with visual art and writing right away!

It is fantastic, watching the masterpieces unfold!

Visioning the New Year with the Panorama Branch Library

January 6, 2022 By Debra Disman

In December, 2021, we completed our 2021-22 Artist Residency in bookmaking at the the Panorama City Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I say “we” rather than “I”, as this was a team effort with the Library Staff, and of course, the DCA, always supportive!

During our residency “CULMINATION EVENT” participants created “Vision Journals” to welcome the New Year, and help them set intentions and goals for 2022.

Our online event was well-attended, fun and inspiring.
A wonderful way to complete the Residency, the year, and gather our strength, resiliency, hope, imagination and creativity to move into 2022!

Student Work

I was thrilled to offer three FREE bookmaking workshops for Be the Change Book Festival – Be the Change Series on Saturday February 25th,2023!!!

Saturday, February 25: 10:00am – 4:00pm Glendale Central Library

ALSO! I have a solo show in ReflectSpace Gallery:

In our “Making Art Inspired by Great Artists” CREST Enrichment class, students are inspired by the Surealist Artist Salvador Dalí!