William W. Estes Elementary

During National Arts in Education Week, we’re celebrating the wonderful, dedicated art teachers who aim to spark the creative spirit in every student!
 
At William W. Estes Elementary School, art teacher Matthew Lane has been helping second graders develop their ability to understand and draw proportions related to the human body. On Tuesday, they used wooden drawing mannequins to build basic human body shapes. Later, they’ll add the textures of clothing, then move on to more advanced concepts like faces and hands. Mr. Lane said it’s fascinating to watch the children advance from crude stick figures to more realistic body shapes.
 
“We break down these big concepts, like the human body, into component shapes and build their skills in a fun, engaging way,” he said. “Pretty soon, they’re thinking about how the body bends and moves. That prepares them to take on higher level art concepts later on.”
 
Studies have shown that students involved in the arts are better prepared for society by being better communicators, more empathetic, creative problem solvers, and having more global awareness and understanding. Buncombe County Schools (BCS) offers enriching arts classes at all grade levels. Our students can be a part of a large musical production, master an instrument, sing in competitions, take AP visual art courses, learn design techniques, and much more.