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Watercolor, “The Derelict,” by Presbyterian School second grader, Mia D'Andrea.

A child born today will see more images in a lifetime than the number of stars in the universe. But how do children learn the skills that will help them respond to the world around them with “thinking” rather than “passive” eyes?

Teach Me to See, a new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, is comprised of a series of looking and art-making activities which cultivate “thinking” eyes in students ages 3 to 7.   Teach Me to See, on display at the MFAH beginning July 3 through January 9 will feature 21 works of art made by Presbyterian School students who took part in the MFAH Storytime Tour Program this past school year.

During the MFAH Storytime Tours Program, Presbyterian School students participated in six, one-hour guided tours of the MFAH.  The Storytime Tours Program combines the reading of children’s literature in front of a work of art with discussion and other activities designed to help students understand and make sense of what they see.  Activities include articulating what they see, using their senses to experience art, and imagining unseen details in a work of art followed by discussion and questions.

After a MFAH storytime highlighting the artwork of John Singer Sergeant and Maurice Prendergast, Presbyterian

Watercolor, “Rialto, Venice,” by Presbyterian School second grader, Erin Oldham.

School second grade students created their own work of art in response to Sergeant and Prendergast’s art.  Each student was called upon to interpret the artist’s style and to incorporate elements of the artist’s style within their personal response pieces.

First, students examined the medium of each artist and decided upon an appropriate medium they would use to capture the essence of the artist’s style.  Next, students emphasized such elements as color choices, mark making, subject matter, use of texture and perspective and whether the original artist chose to use more or less detail.   Students had available for their works watercolor paints, water based oil pastel, water color pencils, tempera paint,  a large selection of brushes and interesting ways to create texture. Students were encouraged to do multiple response pieces including ones that used a light pencil sketch and a piece using the brush as a pencil.

“My students did a marvelous job analyzing the characteristics of each artist’s style, even pointing out that Maurice Prendergast’s work shows crowds of people but John Singer Sargeant’s work depicts small groups or just one or two people,” Presbyterian Lower School Art teacher, Jacqui Chaltain said. “Controlling watercolor so that the colors did not bleed was a big challenge, but my students were determined to learn. I hope this project is only the beginning of their lifelong engagement with the arts.”

The second grade Sergeant and Prendergast response artwork may be viewed at the MFAH Teach Me To See exhibition from July 3 to January 9 and also in the administrative offices of Presbyterian School, located at 10 Oakdale Street, one block from the museum.