"Recipes for ArtFull Success" is a comprehensive guide compiled and fully illustrated by two professional educators with a combined total of over 80 years of classroom experience. The husband and wife team are both professional artists who have received many awards.
It is a book of "get starters" since art has endless possibilities. The book is executed and can be adapted for students of any age, including adults, with a wide range of abilities. The wealth of information contained in the book would make this a good resource for a basic art curriculum.
The lessons in this book are designed in a recipe format making it unique and giving it a kitchen-connection "twist". As art teachers for many years, the similarity between the art room and the kitchen became apparent. The requirements for each scenario are about the same. There is the motivation, the preparation, the creation of the product, followed by clean-up and finally, the evaluation. A motivational dialogue to lead the instructor through the process of exciting or stimulating the students to be creatively engaged is provided for each recipe. There are suggestions provided for adding variation(s) to a lesson. The success can be measured using the evaluation provided, for each lesson in the book.
The book is boiling over with creative ideas. Just as one thinks that they've reached the boiling point on one idea... another one pops up. Don't stew over it! Just follow the recipe and you will experience success.
Huttleston, Kirk V.: - KIRK HUTTLESTON Kirk has admired and enjoyed knowing Fritz and Linda Wasser since meeting them as a 6th grade student, he recalls fondly 6th, 7th, and 8th grade pride at how well these projects turned out. These recipes are wonderful and the insights shared are the pertinent observations of teachers with fun success in mind. Anyone interested in inspiring artistic success and enthusiasm will find this an enormously useful resource.
Wasser, Fritz F.: - FRITZ F. WASSER Born- 1934, Rochester, New York, after high school enlisted into the Army, 1953. He served during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Fulda, Germany. These, of course, were the years of the Cold War. After being honorably discharged, Fritz enrolled in college, San Francisco College of Fine Arts, San Francisco, California. In his senior year, he transferred, with a full scholarship, to the College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California, earning both a BFA and a Teaching Degree. Fritz taught in Oakland, California for four years before returning to New York State to further his graduate education, at R.I.T., in Rochester, New York. He stayed with his family in Naples, New York, while pursuing his work at R.I.T. Fritz taught for one year in the Canandaigua, New York School System. In 1967, he signed a teaching contract with the Corning -Painted Post School District, Corning, New York. This was the beginning of a 35 1/2 year career at C.F.A. Corning Free Academy Junior High/later Middle School. To satisfy N.Y. State's Requirements for certification, Fritz took classes at Elmira College and later, more graduate courses at Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania. He retired from the Corning Painted-Post School District in 2001. Fritz met Linda, his wife of 40 years, while enrolled in a graduate graphics class at Mansfield University in 1971! In 1975 they were married and have shared their art-filled life together ever since. Fritz has always been a prolific and professional draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, illustrator and teacher. Having won many awards, commissions, his work is in both public and private collections throughout the United States. This book is NOT his first publication, as he has illustrated several published books using his drawing skills.
Wasser, Linda Cooney: - LINDA COONEY WASSER Linda Cooney Wasser opened her eyes to the world of art at a very early age. Inspired by a creative, artistic mother who meticulously hand painted furniture and toleware as a hobby, Linda was eager to pick up a paintbrush. Beginning at age five (5), when given a paintbrush and some art supplies, the young artist would work beside her mother, known affectionately as Peggy, to create her own pieces. As Linda's creativity and enthusiasm rapidly grew, she was provided with art supplies and much encouragement from both her mother and her father. Thus, art has been the focal point in Linda's entire life and, also, how she met her husband, Fritz who shares the same love and focus. Art has been infused into all of their areas of interest which include, the culinary arts, gardening and maintenance of a greenhouse, antiquing and collecting, traveling in their motor home in the U.S.A. and to our neighbor Canada and to museums. Linda has a penchant for detail, which is most evident upon viewing/observing her artworks. Many of her works include objects and subjects of nature. Linda's husband, Fritz, often makes reference to the fact that his wife is a Pennsylvania Peach. This endearing attribute seems fitting since Linda was born and raised In Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She graduated from the Williamsport High School, received her BA degree from Lycoming College, and obtained her art certification from Mansfield University, attended summer sessions at Kutztown University all of which are in Pennsylvania. In addition, she was an elementary art teacher in the Williamsport Area School District for several years. After her marriage to Fritz, several decades ago, Linda broadened her horizon by becoming a New Yorker and moving to Corning, New York. She taught in the Corning Painted-Post School District until her retirement a few years ago. Reflecting on a successful teaching career which spans 38 years, Linda explains why she chose to teach art. She wanted to impart her love of art to, students of all ages, and to provide them with the opportunity to satisfy their urge to create through ART and to have them open their eyes to the awareness of the beauty that is everywhere. Finally, to have them gain an appreciation of art, to the artists efforts put forth in creating the art, and its' purpose. Linda is unwavering about her decision to become an art teacher. It was the most wonderful and rewarding experience in my life. If I had it to do over again, I would make the same choice. Mrs. Wasser has always been a producing, exhibiting artist and has had many shows, both One-man Show, and exhibits with her husband, Fritz. She has won many awards for her work, as well. Linda's work is represented in both public and private collections.
