Postage Stamps and Cubist Self Portraits

CMA Resident Artist Noormah Jamal introduced her students at Children's Workshop School to their first 2D project inspired by postage stamps from around the world.

Students were intimidated at first by the multistep process, but they impressed themselves with their composition skills on a small surface!

Next, students created Cubist self portraits. They are quickly gaining confidence in oil pastels, even reminding each other to wipe down the tips of their pastels before blending colors.

Students discussed what they would miss most in 6th grade and they all insisted that they would miss art class the most. One student said:

“This isn’t like any class we had before. We aren’t just drawing on paper, we are doing so much more.” 

Noormah’s work at Children’s Workshop School is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund, which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts.

Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here.