Rehoboth Elementary art students inspired by surroundings

Kellyann Palladino’s art students have found inspiration close to home.

“This year Rehoboth Elementary is focusing on art around Rehoboth,” Palladino said. “Typically we journey around the world and focus on a continent or countries, but this year we are staying home.”

With the new school opening this year, Palladino said it was the perfect opportunity for students to learn more about the local area and display their knowledge through art.

Students’ projects in all mediums have focused on landscapes, seascapes and festivals in Rehoboth and Dewey. Drawings, paintings and 3D projects relating to Jazz Festival line the main hallway, where fifth-graders are are also hosting an exhibit of Sea Witch Festival photos titled iSnap Sea Witch.

The class learned art concepts and photography techniques before touring downtown Rehoboth, where they used their iPads to capture Halloween and fall-themed decorations and displays such as pumpkins, mums, pirates and skeletons.

Anjeli Keswani said students learned about perspective and harmony in photos, and how texture and contrasting colors can make a photo stand out. They used the power-of-threes technique to create well-balanced, interesting shots.

“We learned to take photos of things in a row and to take photos from different angles,” Anjeli said. “And when you zoom in, it looks better and you get the textures, too.”

Robert Mejia Herrera displayed his photo that zoomed in on grains of sand. “They look like jewels,” he said.

Franklin Hernandez-Velasquez said he lay on the ground to photograph a tree from a different angle. Linden Henderson said she also got on the ground to take her photo, then changed it to black and white for effect.

Students also used mirrors and storefront glass windows to take reflective photos, and practiced shooting down long alleyways at different angles.

For their next projects, students will create artwork on the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge and the history of Funland.