Portrait painting partnership developed between NSHS and Seasons

Art students at North Star High School painted portraits of Seasons Amherstburg residents who volunteered for the project. Students and residents included Mary Ann Wyzinski, Dylann Stainer, Makaiyah Jimmerfield, Ryan Casey, Roma Santarossa, Madi Morely (holding portrait of Gary and Elaine Deehan), Lauren Kelly and Ruth Anderson. Unable to attend was Liz Malashewski.

Students at North Star High School got a chance to try portrait painting and got some models thanks to Seasons Retirement Community.

Grade 11 art students, under the direction of teacher Sam Thomas, were assigned to try portrait painting with some of the students being paired with residents from Seasons. Six Seasons residents chose to participate and students based the portraits of the seniors of photos that were provided.

For many of the high school students, it was the first time they tried their hands at portrait painting.

Thomas said the idea originated with Seasons Amherstburg fun manager Jenn Lauzon reaching out to her. Residents had their first look at the portraits last Thursday afternoon at the school.

“Jenn contacted me and said ‘would you be interested?’,” said Thomas. “It was her idea.”Thomas added she would like to see the partnership continue annually.

Makaiyah Jimmerfield said she enjoyed painting her first portrait.

“I liked it,” she said. 

Jimmerfield said she has done a lot of scenery paintings in the past and a portrait was something different for her.

“It was a challenge,” said Jimmerfield. “I 100 per cent enjoyed it.”

Lauzon said she saw a similar project elsewhere and decided to bring it to Amherstburg.

“Another Seasons property came up with it,” said Lauzon. “I piggybacked on them.”

Lauzon said she reached out to Thomas and the partnership happened. She added she approached residents at Seasons Amherstburg to see if they were interested and that’s how she obtained the volunteers.

“I gave them the idea and they were excited,” said Lauzon.

Portrait painting partnership developed between NSHS and Seasons

By Ron Giofu