Young Artists Head to Summer School

A dozen students, ranging from third to eighth graders, are taking time out of busy summer schedules to visit the Conklin House for some fine art instruction offered up by the Babylon Village Arts Council.

Teacher Edward Lee, a Babylon Village resident who teaches art to junior and senior high school students in Valley Stream, is also a fixture on the local art show circuit. His intricate illustrations depict historical scenes in and around the village, so the historical setting of the Conklin House seemed the perfect spot for encourage artistic innovation in the next generation of local artists.

Patrick Cohen, a fifth grader from West Babylon, was engrossed in the cartoon lesson given on a recent Tuesday night, although he confided "I like drawing realistic pictures and sketching the best."

"I love art," he added. "My aunt is an artist and she gives me private lessons."

Lee, who also gives private instruction to students one-on-one, said the Babylon Village Arts Council (BVAC) programs were a bargain, at a fraction of the cost of individual tutoring.

"For only $25, they get me for four classes," Lee said. "Each week we work on a different skill. Last Tuesday we did drawing from life. It's nice that it's here at the Conklin House."

The kids were enthusiastically working on Lee's assignment for the session: drawing four caricatures, some of the junior high schoolers were inspired to depict their school teachers, with some creative license.

Many of the children said they loved art in school, and the BVAC series gave them the chance for more in-depth practice. Victoria Buonagura, a Babylon eighth grader, said her favorite subjects were "still lifes and the beach." She took the class with a few friends from Babylon. Although art supplies were provided, many students came with elaborate pencil sets and their own favorite tools.

Lee has been conducting the children's lessons for three years, and said they recently launched a new program for adult artists. The idea is that "anyone can learn to draw," and no matter the skill level a student has, they can improve with step-by-step instruction.

"We had a really great response. A lot of retirees who have free time now but maybe hadn't drawn in 30 years were able to pick it up and get right back into it."