Middle

Artists: Allison Adames, Jessiah Bell. Bronx Dance Academy, Grade 8. Teacher: Dominique Martin. Medium: Acrylic and Marker on canvas

Student Artist statement: Allison: I think this work is successful because it is a mix of me and my friend’s styles, and it looked better than I thought it would Jessiah: I think this work is successful because I stepped out of my comfort zone and the piece came out exactly how I wanted it to. 

Artist: Eduardo Alvarez. Middle School 390, Grade 8. Teacher: Rosanna Soriano. Medium: 3D Animation.

Student Artist statement: This is my first time creating a 3D model of the human anatomy. I plan to continue improving my techniques in the future.

Artist: Kevin Baez. P.S. 3 Raul Julia Micro Society School, Grade 7. Teacher: Melina Sassalos. Medium: pencil, color pencils, watercolor.

Student Artist statement: The challenge in creating this art was observing a flower and capturing it through observation. I concentrated on careful drawing and shading and then added color. Some of my drawings are challenging due to the details. I always accept a challenge and get deeply involved in my artwork.

Artist: Leonardo Cini. Mott Hall Community School, Grade 6. Teacher: Julianne Gics. Medium: marker. 

Student Artist statement: I like the way I feel when I do art. I’m very good at it and it is one of my favorite things to do.

Artist: Kayla De Jesus Villegas. PS/MS 15 Institute of Environmental Learning, Grade 8. Teacher: Shernita Butler Ancrum. Medium: Pencil and White Color Pencil 

Student Artist statement: bit.ly/KayladeJesusVillegas

Artist: Bella DeJesus. MS 101, Grade 8. Teacher: Tina Stevens. Medium: Collagraph Print. 

Student Artist statement: It was hard to cut out a bunch of little pieces and glue them. I overcame this challenge by finding a way to cut more at once.

Artist: Ethan Duarte. Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School, Grade 8. Teacher: Christine DeFazio. Medium: Acrylic on canvas 

Student Artist statement: I think this painting is successful, not because it looks good, but because of the time and effort that I poured into it. This is a huge success in my eyes.

Artist: Jade Fabre. PS/MS 15 Institute of Environmental Learning, Grade 8. Teacher: Shernita Butler Ancrum. Medium: Pencil 

Student Artist statement: bit.ly/JadeFabre

Artist: Gabriel Fernandez. Mott Hall Community, Grade 7. Teacher: Julianne Gics. Medium: Acrylic on Canvas board 

Student Artist statement: The hardest part about creating this piece was making the lines for the fireworks. I overcame this challenge by using my paintbrush gently and taking my time.

Artist: Andreliz Gallegos. Kappa, Grade 8. Teacher: Gerhard Frommel. Medium: Acrylic Paint 

Student Artist statement: Art entertains me and let me explore my creativity.

Artist: Reycherd Garcia. I.S. 131 Albert Einstein, Grade 6. Teacher: Niyamatulla Osman. Medium: Oil Pastel and Markers 

Student Artist statement: Being from the Dominican Republic, my English is not so great. I noticed that art is a universal language where I can express myself without using any words.

Artist: Luisanna Gildelamadrid. Pugsley Preparatory Academy 562, Grade 8. Teacher: Carolyn Casaula. Medium: Pencil & Marker 

Student Artist statement: I think my artwork is successful because it is my own creative idea and I worked hard to finish it, color and all.

Artist: Anthony Guevara. Thomas C. Giordano Middle School 45, Grade 7. Teacher: Tina Rella Rooney. Medium: Color Pencil on Paper 

Student Artist statement: I believe this work is successful because I tried my best to create the very little details for this drawing. I put in a lot of time and effort and the final drawing and it looks like I imagined it would.

Artist: Maya Guity. Leaders of Tomorrow, Grade 6. Teacher: Kristy Milazzo. Medium: Watercolor and Ink 

Student Artist statement: The challenging thing about this piece is drawing the sugar skull. I overcame this challenge by practicing in my sketchbook until I could finally draw it correctly.

Artist: Roselin Guzman. Middle School 390, Grade 8. Teacher: Rosanna Soriano. Medium: Digital drawing: Adobe fresco 

Student Artist statement: It gives me a safe space to understand my emotions in depth.

Artist: Jillian Iurato. MS 101, Grade 6. Teacher: Tina Stevens. Medium: Watercolor, Sharpie 

Student Artist statement: The challenge was trying to work with the watercolor. I overcame this by figuring out what worked. I put two colors next to each other and they blended together.

Artist: Musfirat Jafnoon. Pugsley Preparatory Academy, Grade 8. Teacher: Carolyn Casaula. Medium: pencil/color pencil 

Student Artist statement: I continually challenge myself to make more complicated art pieces. Challenges are what truly keeps me focused.

Artist: Suhana Jannat. William W. Niles School / JHS 118, Grade 6. Teacher: Nancy Bruno. Medium:  Ceramic

Student Artist statement: I think my artwork was successful since it captures my ideas of star gazing and it is colorful. It doesn’t look like how I pictured it before I started but when I made a mistake it added to the design.

Artist: Annett Jaquez. IN-Tech Academy MS/HS, Bronx, NY 10463, Grade 7. Teacher: Christopher Parkman. Medium: Watercolor pencils and black ink marker on paper 

Student Artist statement: Expressing myself through art allows me to be creative. It allows me to do as I please without rules and then I get to see the final product. If the art piece I worked on doesn’t turn out as I wanted it to, it helps remind me that nothing is perfect.

Artist: Sahibell Lora Ortiz. Bronx Dance Academy, Grade 7. Teacher: Dominique Martin. Medium:  Colored pencil, Acrylic paint

Student Artist statement: I sometimes express my feelings throughout the art I make, so when I finish I don’t feel like I have to tell someone how I feel.

Artist: Hannah Magidenko. MS 101, Grade 6. Teacher: Tina Stevens. Medium: Pencil

Student Artist statement: It calms me, improves my art skills, and helps me focus.

Artist: Adele Maldonado. The Angelo Patri School, Grade 6. Teacher: Carrie Turner. Medium: acrylic paint

Student Artist statement: bit.ly/AdeleMaldonado

Artist: Vincente Mitchell. William W. Niles School / JHS 118, Grade 8. Teacher: Nancy Bruno. Medium:  Ceramic

Student Artist statement: Making art allows me to express who I am, my culture, and my ideas. I also find making art is calming and relaxing

Artist: Jackly Moncion Corniel. PS/MS 280, Grade 7. Teacher: Diana Wagner. Medium: Tempera Paint 

Student Artist statement: Art feels like magic in my life. It’s like having a superpower to express myself in ways I can’t with just words. When I draw, I feel like I can share my feelings and thoughts without even talking.

Artist: Jadalena Noboa. IS 229, Grade 7. Teacher: Gerhard Frommel. Medium: Pencil 

Student Artist statement: By using a lot of different art materials I can express myself. I like to sketch, create line art, use charcoal etc.

Artist: Emeli Pena. PS 214 The Lorraine Hansberry Academy, Grade 8. Teacher: Alaina Sanchez. Medium: Colored pencil and marker

Student Artist statement: This work was successful because it pushed me to trust myself more in my artwork. I knew the original didn’t feel right as a whole but there were parts that I liked so I worked around those parts.

Artist: Jasmerlyn Peña. KAPPA, Grade 7. Teacher: Gerhard Frommel. Medium: pencil 

Student Artist statement: I thought it was successful because has become easier for me to draw eyes, and hair. I thought I did a great job.

Artist: Jadelys Perez. Middle School 390, Grade 7. Teacher: Rosanna Soriano. Medium: Pencil and Digital drawing 

Student Artist statement: I think this artwork is successful because this is my first real human anatomy drawing attempt. I was so happy with the results.

Artist: Kiana Reyes. P.S. 3 Raul Julia Micro Society School, Grade 8. Teacher: Melina Sassalos. Medium: pencil, color pencils, watercolor

Student Artist statement: I think my work was successful because I was happy with the clean design in the end and the images of dark to light flowers. It is an artwork of renewing yourself --- an end to the winter and the rebirth that happens in spring.

Artist: Azaria Robledo. Pugsley Preparatory Academy, Grade 7. Teacher: Sara Casten. Medium: pencil and charcoal 

Student Artist statement: I noticed that some pieces of my artwork were disproportionate and were missing details. So I paid more attention to the shadows to fix the piece.

Artist: DAVINA ROOPNARAIN. William W. Niles School / JHS 118, Grade 8. Teacher: Nancy Bruno. Medium:  ceramic and air dry clay

Student Artist statement: Being able to express myself through art provides for a greater understanding of myself and will allow me to live more wholeheartedly.

Artist: Hemangini Rukho. Pugsley Preparatory Academy, Grade 7. Teacher: Sara Casten. Medium: pencil, charcoal and watercolor 

Student Artist statement: Expressing myself through art makes a difference in my life by allowing me to put my imagination and images I see in my mind on paper. This lets me visualize my thoughts and translate it into art.

Artist: Araddya Saha. Pugsley Preparatory Academy, Grade 6. Teacher: Sara Casten. Medium: pencil, marker and watercolor 

Student Artist statement: The difference is that my art gives meaning to my life and it can also help me understand the world I am living in.

Artist: Academy of Personal Leadership and Excellence Grade 6 Art. Academy of Personal Leadership and Excellence, Grade 6. Teacher: Tracy Adams. Medium: Textile Collage Quilt

Student Artist statement: Our artwork is successful because we worked hard together to make this quilt. Everyone dedicated a lot of time and added their own personal style to the tiles. We cut out different shapes and used fabrics that had plenty of colors, patterns and textures. Each tile represents the different students and cultures in our 6th Grade House.

Artist: Jubaidah Tasnim. Pugsley Preparatory Academy 562, Grade 8. Teacher: Carolyn Casaula. Medium: Pencil 

Student Artist statement: I think this work is successful because I had the determination to put all my skills to the test. This is something I had never done before. I challenged and pushed myself to the very edge to identify how far I could go. As for the future, I must find out where to improve my work and how to strengthen my skills.

Artist: Steven Tineo. Alexander Macombs Middle School I.S. 232, Grade 7. Teacher: Ivonne Ramos. Medium: Color pencils, pencil and markers on paper 

Student Artist statement: Honestly, I feel like making the bridge was the most difficult because I really don’t know what a bridge looks like. Luckily I had my teacher who helped me with some references like pictures.

Joziah Velazquez. Bronx Dance Academy, Grade 6. Teacher: Dominique Martin. Medium: Alcohol Marker on Bristol 

Student Artist statement: Doing art is not just a hobby, it’s my therapy. When I am creating art, I can express how I feel without having to use words. It helps calm me, especially when I’m away from home. Art is my home away from home.

Artist: Ophelia Young. The School for Inquiry and Social Justice, Grade 8. Teacher: Jason Jacks. Medium: Colored pencil, pen, paper 

Student Artist statement: One part that was challenging about creating this piece was trying to make the pictures relate and connect to each other to give it the illusion of being well balanced. I overcame this challenge by trusting my gut and going with that decision during each class.