Orange Couch celebrates creativity

GRANVILLE – Creating art is not about being good at drawing. It’s about expression and creativity.

Paul Hamilton, an artist at The Granville Studio of Visual Arts, was always told he was a good artist as a child. That affirmation probably helped him end up an artist, he said. But his mission now is to make sure every child knows they have an artistic spirit and mind, no matter what others say.

“Every child has a vision and a purpose. ... It’s about the artist, not the art,” Hamilton said. “So many kids don’t pursue art because they’re being told they’re not a good artist or they feel they are not a good artist.”

So Hamilton set out to create an art curriculum that celebrates creativity and the artistic lifestyle. His curriculum and classes are part of a program called Orange Couch. The free online classes have reached more than 2,000 students in six states: California, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio.

Heritage and Wilson middle schools in Newark have joined the movement. Through their after-school program, 50 students take Hamilton’s online classes and create their own art projects. At the end of their eighth week in the Orange Couch class, they will showcase a gallery of their work.

“It helps bring them out of their shell,” said Gemma Zimmerman, special programs coordinator for Newark schools. “It helps them be who they want to be.”

On Thursday, the students in the after-school program got to meet Hamilton for the first time. He was sitting on the orange couch at the The Granville Studio of Visual Arts at Bryn Du Mansion when the middle school students walked in. Many were eager to show Hamilton their portfolios.

“If they are able to do it, we bring (the students) in here,” said Michael Bontempo, educational consultant for the studio. “We are a staff of only four, but we really care.”

Bontempo helps Hamilton make and post the videos online. He also is in charge of delivering art supplies to the different schools that are participating in the program.

Bontempo said the video classes are not just Hamilton doing art projects on screen. Hamilton allows time for the classes to do their own projects, present their work, and reflect on their creativity.

The projects involve water colors, paper and scissors, and other materials. But, Bontempo said, it’s not just arts and crafts time. There is no set project the kids have to create. They are encouraged to take the materials and create what they want.

Hamilton said the most important aspect of his classes is the body of work the students can show off at the end. He said he wants the galleries to promote students’ pride in their own work.

“Art isn’t about how good it looks; it’s about how you feel,” Hamilton said. “The gallery is the football stadium for artists.”

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