Mrs. Lindsay Trutza

Welcome to 8th Grade Studio Art! Students goal this semester will be improving and becoming fluent in digital media. We will also be creating artwork and responding to artwork in the classroom with both hands-on activites and using digital media. Students will learn artistic skills which will not only help them at their time at Solon Middle School but beyond at Solon High School or even further. Students studio projects include drawing, mixed media, printmaking, crayon melt, acrylic painting, glass and clay. My goal is for students to find their own personal voice through art while exploring a wide variety of materials. Students are required to purchase a 9/12 or 8.5/11 sketchbook, colored pencils, and pencils for this class. 

 Welcome to Digtial Photography! Students goal this semester will be improving their photography skills using digital media. You will become fluent with digital photography using both your phone, and digital cameras. Students will be introduced to various photo editing applications through their phones, and chromebooks. Editing, lighting, design, and composition techniques are also addressed in this course. Students will then become fluent in Google Sites, to create a digital portfolio to share their work. Students are required to bring their charged smartphone, charged chromebook. Digital cameras will be provided, but if you would like to bring a personal camera you may, and will be secured during the duration of the class. 

Welcome to Photo 1. Students in Photo 1 will have the opportunity to continue using and improving their photographic skills from the Digital Photography class. The first quarter will focus on film photography. Students will begin by learning the history, componets of the camera, and the steps to developments. We then will move to using the film cameras, and focus on compostion and developing our film in the dark room. Students have the unique opportunity to learn these photographic skills. The second quarter is focused on using the digtial camera, compsotional techniques used in photography, lighting, editing, and presenting their artwork for peer crtique. Photo 1 students are required to purchase paper through the book-store for the first quarter. These cards can be obtained during school hours through the bookstore and presented in class during the first few weeks of the class. Film cameras, film, chemicals, and digtial cameras will be provided, but if students prefer to use personal cameras they can, and will be secured during the duration of the class.

A bit about me:

I graduated from Shaker Heights High School, and spent my youth growing up in the area of Solon and the eastern suburbs. I began studying Art Education at Kent State University, so when we have student teachers I am excited to welcome them to the classroom. I then transferred to Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia due to my husbands naval service. That is where I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting and Art Education. The Navy sent our family on an adventure for 10 years across the east coast of the US. We were able to live and experience  wonderful places and people across the country, but we missed home and returned to Northeast Ohio to start our family. 

I have been teaching in the Solon Schools for  8 years and have been at multiple buildings and grade levels but have been at the middle school for the past 7 years and rtook the opportunity to teach at the high school. I love the fact that I have relationships with students that span years. I remember them from the elementary level, then are able to teach them again at the middle school, and high school.

I love the outdoors, and we try to be outside as much as possible hiking, fishing, archery, gardening and taking care of our chickens. Traveling is another one of our favorite things to do! A few of my favorite places include visting my sister in Colorado, going to the rodeo in Wyoming, fishing in Alaska, Florida Keys, and the Outer Banks, and doing a student exchange in Japan. Photography is my current main artistic passion, but I do love to draw, paint, and create ceramics. 

I look forward to meeting you and your families this year!

Please look over the syllabus for this year, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have

Below you will find the class links, which have all the infomation for the semester courses.