Patricia Ritter

Patricia Ritter has called Cumberland County, KY home since 1977, when she moved from Philadelphia, PA.  Self-taught in her chosen mediums of watercolors, pastel painting and photography, Patricia's art is inspired by the beauty she sees in the world and appears in collections throughout the state.  Her work has been exhibited at the Speed Museum of Louisville, The Headley-Whitley Museum in Lexington; and she was chosen to be part of the “Kentucky Women Artists—1850 to 2000” exhibit at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art.  She has completed large scale historical murals in Burkesville for tourism initiatives.

A KAC Roster Artist since 1996, she has completed numerous TIP grants and long term art residencies; is also a Roster Artist with VSA of Kentucky and has completed several Inclusion Award Programs with special needs students; taught the visual arts components at the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Arts Academies for teachers; worked with alternative education programs and juvenile detention centers; provided Professional Development sessions for teachers and has designed and implemented summer camps, 4-H and after-school programs.

Projects have included:  watercolor, acrylic and/or pastel painting; collage work; mask-making; puppetry; studying, designing and painting murals; creating books; printmaking; and photography. 
Working with students of all ages she encourages them to reach for and use the power of their own creativity for expression and creative problem solving. 

Designing and Painting a Mural

Time Required:  One to four week residency depending on size and site of mural.

Grade Levels:  Grades 4 through 12

Murals can be on walls or doors, indoors or outdoors - or can be portable murals created on various surfaces (masonite or foam core for example).  Planning with the teacher is the first step to determine needs and goals. 

In the classroom:  I bring a PowerPoint presentation on several mural artists - Diego Rivera, Violet Oakley, etc - which provides examples and historical context.  Students are shown murals from around the world and varied time periods - including cultural, political and tourism related examples.  Discussions include:  identifying/analyzing elements of art and principles of design; understanding, responding and critiquing works of art; use of arts for artistic expression, narrative uses and documentation.  Students are led in group decision-making to arrive at the theme(s) for their mural.

Hands-On Warm Ups:  Elements of art and principles of design are reviewed and used in drawing exercises, first in black and white then building to work with colored chalk.  Small landscape paintings are completed using either watercolors or acrylic paints.  Students are instructed on use of materials, mixing of colors and applying paint.

Hands-On Mural work:  Students complete individual sketches of their ideas, based on the decided-upon theme and collaboration, group decision making and critical thinking skills are employed to arrive at a final sketch.  Math skills are used as students learn to grid out spaces and enlarge their sketch onto surface.  Led by the artist, students complete painting their mural step by step.

Optional Open House:   Students can host an unveiling of their mural project for parents, school and community and make presentations on how they proceeded with the project and what they learned. 

Goals include:  addressing Core Content relative to grade level; use of appropriate vocabulary; use of the elements of art and principles of design;  introduction to various artists and their work to broaden understanding of styles and processes; group decision making; use of critical thinking skills to compare and contrast; using math skills; providing professional development to teachers; making cross-curricular connections so important for life-long learning and helping all students participate and access creativity to their highest level to achieve success, thus building self-esteem and confidence.