Welcome to Mrs. Franke's Art Studio!

Art is so much more than making beautiful things, it's about learning to think creatively, solve problems, take risks, and discover your own unique voice.

I am thrilled to welcome you to North Lake's K–8 Art Program!  This website provides a look inside our classroom, including our curriculum, essential questions, project highlights, and the creative journey students will experience throughout the year.  Every lesson is thoughtfully designed to align with the Wisconsin Visual Arts Standards while encouraging curiosity, exploration, and joyful learning.

My path to teaching art is a little different than most.  Before becoming an educator, I spent more than 25 years as a professional artist, Industrial deainer, and design leader in the corporate world.  Working in creative industries taught me that the most valuable skills aren't simply learning how to draw or paint, they're learning how to imagine possibilities, solve problems, collaborate with others, and communicate ideas visually.  Those are the same skills I strive to develop in every student who walks through my studio door.

Our K–8 curriculum is intentionally scaffolded so that each grade level builds upon the last.  Students will explore a wide variety of media, techniques, cultures, artists, and design thinking while developing confidence in their own creative abilities.  Every unit begins with an Essential Question that encourages students to think beyond the project itself and connect art to the world around them.

Whether we're experimenting with paint, clay, sculpture, printmaking, digital illustration, photography, mixed media, or collaborative installations, students will be challenged to think creatively, embrace mistakes as opportunities, and discover that there is often more than one right answer.

My goal is to create an art studio where every student feels inspired, valued, and excited to create.  Together, we'll build technical skills, artistic confidence, and creative habits that extend far beyond the classroom.

Welcome to a place where imagination leads the way and every student is an artist.

-Margaux Franke