Eighth-grade students work diligently on their self portraits.

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School recently worked with professional artist Ariadne Albright as part of the South Dakota Arts Council’s Artists in Schools & Communities program.

Her workshops focused on the basic techniques and elements of visual art, as well as the principles of design.

Students learned to use primary colors to create their own color palettes, which were then used to paint self portraits on plexi-glass.

Albright shows students how to mix paint so they can create their own color palettes.

"We are all inherently interested in ourselves,” Ariadne said. “I always begin this project by asking students to create a list of adjectives or whole sentences that describe them. My goal is to provide art experiences and discussions that stimulate the learning environment and personal development in each child.” 

Albright has spent years creating art throughout South Dakota and across the nation.

"My goal is to provide art experiences and discussions that stimulate the learning environment and personal development in each child."

She has operated C.A.C. Studios in South Dakota since 1997, and was an Assistant Professor of Art at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, from 2007-2009.

She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking at the University of Washington and her Master of Fine Arts in Painting at the University of South Dakota.

This program is sponsored by St. Joseph’s Indian School, with support provided by the South Dakota Arts Council with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism and State Development, and the National Endowment for the Arts.