Art Residencies, Author Visits, and Professional Development Sessions

Jennifer Stables, B.F.A., B.Ed., Certified Therapeutic Arts Practitioner and Artist in Residence

Instagram: @jennifer.stables

With experience as a classroom teacher, Alberta artist Jennifer Stables offers unique and comprehensive school art residencies, author visits, staff workshops, and professional development sessions. She is a certified Therapeutic Arts Practioner and designs projects and lessons that engage students in creative thinking and personal expression.

Jennifer began teaching for the Calgary Board of Education in 2005 as an AISI Learning Leader (Art Specialist), and later as a Reggio-inspired classroom teacher in kindergarten, grade one, and grade two.  She has worked in leadership positions within schools, providing guidance in Inquiry Based Learning, Reggio-Inspired Principles, Documentation of Learning, and Arts Integration.  Jennifer has led countless professional development sessions for educators across Alberta on the subject of Art and Reggio-Inspired Education, including a full year of professional development sessions for early childhood educators in the Medicine Hat School District. She served on the board of directors for the Calgary Reggio Network Association as both a director and as President. Recently Jennifer completed the Therapeutic Arts Practioner Program at the Canadian International Institue of Art Theapy.

Jennifer has been providing art residencies to schools since 2013. Through her art residencies she strives to create meaningful art experiences for students while building teacher capacity to integrate art into the curriculum.

Art Residencies

Jennifer Stables has experience working with a wide selection of art materials and techniques. These include (but are not limited to): watercolour painting, acrylic painting, oil pastels, chalk pastels, sketching, art journaling, papier mache, print making, wire sculpture, assemblage, pottery (hand building), plasticine, print making and mural making.

Jennifer works with teachers and administrators to develop school-wide residency programs that suit the needs of their school development goals.

Puppets and Masks

Puppets and masks are a powerful tool for artistic expression.  They have the power to restore voice and agency to those who are silenced.  They help us address complicated issues and emotions in a way that encourages listening and dialogue, and most importantly, they connect us to our innate ability to play.  Puppets and masks can take many forms and have wide curricular connections. Some forms of puppetry include shadow puppets, rod puppets, hand puppets, tabletop puppets, mouth and rod (muppet-style) puppets, and marionettes. Additionally masks can vary in materials and subjects including animals, elements and emotions.

Drawing and Painting 

 

Painting techniques include colour mixing, building texture, glazing, creating depth, and creating form. Painting materials include tempera, watercolour, acrylic, watercolour pencil crayons, and ink. Drawing techniques include sketching, use of perspective, hatching, cross-hatching, pointillism, shading, and contour. Drawing materials include pen, pastel, coloured pencil, and charcoal.   Jennifer often teaches a mixed media technique that combines both painting and drawing.

Sculpture

Sculpture is the creation of three-dimensional works of art. Materials used to create sculpture include clay, papier-mache, plaster, plasticine, sculpy, wire, and found objects. Through sculpture students learn the design principles of form, function, balance, and space. Jennifer also teaches pottery through hand building techniques.

Jennifer offers firing services at an additional cost to school that do not have a kiln.

Relief Sculpture

Relief sculpture is the fusion of painting and sculpting. Like a painting, a relief sculpture is designed to hang on a wall, yet elements of it are sculpted and come forward from the base. Materials include papier-mache, clay, plaster, and found objects.

Mixed Media, Assemblage, and Collage

Mixed media refers to the combination of 2 or more art materials in one piece; assemblage is the arrangement of found objects to create a work of art, and Collage is the arrangement of various papers and materials to create an image. The possible materials and subject matter for these art forms are truly limitless. This art form is especially relevant when teaching about waste in the world as it gives students the opportunity to create art by repurposing material that would otherwise be thrown away.

 

 

Author Visits

Jennifer has written and/or illustrated over 20 books and publications.  She provides author visits to schools across Alberta.

 

 Professional Development

In addition to her residencies, Jennifer offers Professional Development Sessions for teachers and staff. She meets with administrators prior to each presentation to discuss staff needs and school goals, and tailors her presentation to respond to these needs. Sessions are available as 1-2 hour presentations, half-day workshops, or full day workshops.  Topics include:

• Art media exploration- An introduction to the art media of your choice and how to use it in the classroom (clay, watercolour, pen, charcoal, graphite, printmaking, collage...)
  • Jennifer offers tips and techniques for using a variety of art materials in the classroom with students. These hands-on presentations are a wonderful way to overcome anxieties or concerns about introducing new materials to students.
• Art Journalling- Art journals can be used in a variety of ways– to explore curricular topics in math, language arts, and science, or to express feelings and experiment with techniques.

 

">Contact Jennifer Stables

For a list of available dates, or to book a residency or professional development session, please contact Jennifer at .

Teaching Statement:

I believe children are competent and eager explorers, brimming with creativity, and I strive to provide them with opportunities to showcase their creative and critical thinking abilities. By actively listening to their ideas and treating them with utmost respect, we create an environment that encourages risk-taking and expands their knowledge. Art serves as a potent tool for engagement, idea exploration, and emotional expression. Integrating art techniques and materials meaningfully in the classroom offers children an additional language to communicate and understand the world around them.