Bensonhurst Senior Center Blog 6 06/23/22 Portrait Book

 Bensonhurst Senior Center

Blog 6 06/23/22 

Portrait Book


Our final class and many students were early, already set up and finishing off their artwork from the previous lesson. What an incredible group! Lao Yu even takes 3 buses just to get to our class. It is always sad when a project we’ve been working on together comes to an end but also exciting to see the finished product. 

Because we had a few steps to complete before putting the book together, we decided against a warmup game and jumped right into modeling the collage for the cover of their Portrait Book. For this they selected colored magazine images of scenery and patterns, which they tore into small pieces of different shapes. Once they had a pile of torn colors they patterned them onto white cardstock, using the layering method they had previously employed. Using a glue stick they created their collage and added a layer of Mod Podge for a polished finish. In order to complete the cover, they had to add their profile. This was accomplished by selecting colored cardstock which complimented the background, taking their profile photocopy and using it as a template to cut out their profile. Once the Mod Podge dried, they glued their profile onto the cover. 

It’s so rewarding to see each senior develop his or her personal style, reflected in their choice of colors, and how they develop a pattern. Cover pages were placed on the blackboard at the front of the room to dry, creating a gallery walk, which the seniors always enjoy, learning from each other and commenting on style. 

Next, they worked in pairs to add the hole punched sidebars to each black page using narrow black tape. Each senior has 8 pages, and these are bound together with binding screws. This is a job Spica, and I will finish up as we were pressed for time today. They laid out the order of their artwork which we will glue onto the black pages. 

Chip allowed us some extra time to finish up for which we were very grateful. Ah! The excitement of the final class was palpable. Next week the center will celebrate the members’ achievements with a party where their work will be on display. They have certainly achieved many accolades. 

What a pleasure and an honor it is to work with this incredible group of talented, fun loving, audacious seniors! They are always ready, willing, and able!!

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