I am thrilled to write a glowing review for the children’s art teacher, Mrs. Mary Edmundson. She is a remarkable source of inspiration and creativity for kids, and her impact on their artistic growth is extraordinary. I can write this about the art teacher, Mrs. Edmundson, in great detail because she has taught art classes at our orchard, King Street Orchard. Mrs. Edmundson’s passion for art is contagious, evident in every lesson she teaches. She creates a warm, inviting atmosphere where children feel comfortable expressing themselves through art. Her ability to connect with each child personally is remarkable, making every student feel valued and encouraged. One of the things I appreciate most about Mrs. Edmundson is her ability to foster creativity. She doesn’t just teach techniques; she encourages our children to think outside the box and explore their unique artistic voices. Under her guidance, I have watched art students develop a deeper appreciation for art and a newfound confidence in their creative abilities. Mrs. Edmundson’s lessons are always well-structured and age-appropriate. She takes the time to tailor her instruction to each child’s skill level, insuring that every student progresses at their own pace. Her patience and gentle guidance have helped our children overcome artistic challenges and develop their skills in a supportive environment. Furthermore, Mrs. Edmundson has a beautiful way of incorporating art history and cultural references into her lessons, enriching their learning experience and broadening art students’ horizons. She encourages students to explore different artistic styles and mediums, allowing them to experiment and discover their preferences. In addition to her teaching skills, Mrs. Edmundson is a fantastic role model for our children. She embodies the qualities of a dedicated and caring educator, and her positive influence extends beyond the art classroom. The art students at King Street Orchard have learned about art and the importance of perseverance, creativity, and embracing one’s unique talents. I highly recommend Mrs. Edmundson to any parent seeking an exceptional art educator for their children. She is a true gem in the teaching world.
Lisa Gorlick, Redlands, CA
“CREATIVITY IS INVENTING, EXPERIMENTING, GROWING, TAKING RISKS, BREAKING RULES, MAKING MISTAKES, AND HAVING FUN.” - Mary Lou Cook
I have known Mrs. Mary Edmundson for 28 years. She was my 4th grade teacher at Little Lake Elementary School and always made learning fun! During the school year I learned how to do papier-mâché by creating animal characters from the book, Charlotte’s Web. We also paired up with other students in the class and made life size paper people that were sitting at our desks for Open House. Mary also taught at Dartmouth Middle School, and I had the opportunity to be her Student Aide. In her art classes at Dartmouth, Mrs. Edmundson taught her classes everything from the Principals of Art and Design, artsy crafts, color theory and history and styles of famous artists. We did many fun and messy art projects: working with clay, painting, color wheels, working with pastels, pencil drawing and much more. During these 2 school years, 2008-09 and 2009-10, Mrs. Edmundson started the art program at HAAAT Charter School (now known as College Prep) for grades 9 - 12.”
- Cory Marshall
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
- Thomas Morton
“I am a parent and retired teacher. I have observed Mary’s classes many times and have come to really appreciate her teaching style and expertise in art education. She teaches at each student’s skill level, building skills as each student is ready. Parents are also encouraged to get involved, and some do. Classes are open to a wide variety of ages and so students are able to learn from older peers in each class. This gives students the ability to share skills and be teachers themselves. The setting for classes is structured and relaxed at the same time. I encourage students of all ages and school backgrounds to participate in the classes offered by Miss Mary.”
- Jim D., PhD
“Art is something that makes you breathe another kind of happiness.” - Anni Albers
“Mary’s projects are varied and fun! Her students have the opportunity to work in different media, both 2 and 3 dimensional and she always ties her students’ projects to related topics in the “real” art world - a dose of art appreciation!”
- Carol K.
“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works, but if from the head, almost nothing.” - Marc Chagall
“Mary’s art class has been very enjoyable for our 11 year old. She has gotten to strengthen her skills in many artistic areas over the course of the last couple years by attending Miss Mary’s classes. It is both an affordable and enjoyable class for our daughter. She’s made so many unique projects that we will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Miss Mary is excellent and patient with her students and it makes me feel very good knowing she is in a safe environment during her classes.”
- Brandy R.
“Painting is very easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.” - Edgar Degas
“My daughters have been attending Creative Arts 4 Kids with Mrs. Edmundson for the last 4 years. These art classes have been wonderful additions to our home schooling as it provides my daughters the opportunity to express themselves in a unique and creative way, while at the same time, learning various art techniques. The projects and drawings that they have created over the years are beautiful and precious memories of their personal expression and growth that will remain in out family for an very long time.”
- Edna R.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” - Albert Einstein
“I’ve attended Mary’s art class for probably eight or nine years now. Attending her class has always been a delight, because she always exposed me to so many different mediums of art and it helped shape many of the artistic skills I have today. I got to explore clay sculpting, papier mache, multimedia collages, painting, and more throughout the years. The class has really diverse lessons, with the opportunity to do something new every one or two weeks, which is really nice. Students get to try out so many new mediums that they probably wouldn’t ever have gotten the chance to try otherwise! The class also helps with practicing the art of creating for the sake of fun, and not just for a perfected piece. It’s a very welcoming environment, with friendly students and constant encouragement to explore and improve. Enjoying the class so much led to me becoming good friends with Mary herself, and now I get to volunteer and help the students as an older artist too!”
- Hanna Stephenson
“The urge to draw must be quite asleep within us, because children love to do it.” - David Hockney
“What I love about this class is that I get to do all kinds of different arts and crafts such as painting, learning how to shade, and different techniques with pottery. We also did a fun crayon melting on canvas that I really liked!”
- Karlina C.
“I dream my painting and then I paint my dream.” - Vincent Van Gogh
“I have 3 daughters who have had the opportunity to take part in Mary’s art classes and activities. They have fun and learn while doing so. Mary uses a variety of mediums, so they are able to learn different techniques and art forms. As a parent, I feel good about giving my children opportunities to grow through artistic expression. With all of the technology and media choices out there, providing them with an enriching hands-on experience is so worth it. The projects my girls have brought home are keepers! They love every minute of their classes with Mary. I highly recommend her classes.”
- Melissa G.
“Every artist dips his brush in his soul and paints his own nature into his paintings.” - Henry Ward Beecher
“Mrs. Mary teaches art in a very welcoming environment. She is always ready with a smile when my girls arrive. Thank you, Mrs. Mary, for giving my girls the opportunity to express their art talent! She is very patient and kind while teaching all levels and kinds of art such as drawing, painting, working with clay, different metals and more.”
- Griselda C.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Pablo Picasso
“My granddaughter has been taking art lessons with Miss Mary since the Fall of 2018. She looks forward to each art class because of the variety of art projects Miss Mary provides as well as the patient, encouraging way she teaches her art students. Also, I have noticed a real improvement in my granddaughter’s drawings because she includes more shading to add depth and detail. Thank you, Miss Mary!”
- Mitzi C.