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During the past ten years or so I have been particularly fortunate to have been happily surprised by so many spontaneous visits from my former students. Some were back in Marlboro to visit family and friends, others on school break from various universities and colleges across the country, or just finally able to squeeze in a visit to give hugs and thanks, causing mutual tears of happiness while telling me their stories. Each time I am overwhelmed with joy to realize how much their experiences here meant to them, their fondness and memories of me and my wonderful, nurturing staff. We are often quite shocked because they didn’t show their feelings in the younger years. I realize how fortunate I am to be able to stay in contact with them as adults, many of whom have started their own families and amazing careers. The younger group are still immersed in school or in the early phase of trying different opportunities to use their creativity and talents.

Their stories are quite diverse as are their personalities, skills and interests. The common thread was their appreciation of an escape from academic studies, or a hunger for more skills, knowledge and techniques. . Many already had a sense of direction that they would follow: medical, technical, scientific, fashion, marketing and visual arts. Some followed their paths, others experiencing many curves and corners that changed their direction.‍ ‍

Here are their stories which they have enthusiastically submitted to inspire others. I have so much love and gratitude for this beautiful, collective sharing of their lives. They have not been edited as I want their messages to be genuine. Some have included photos, others are photos that we have collected over the years which they would also like to share with you. The entries will keep growing as each submission is received.

“I have been with Marlene since I was 7 years old. I stayed with her as a student until my senior year of high school, when she helped me expand my college portfolio. For three summers, I also worked as a teacher assistant at Art Camp. I originally signed up for art class to broaden my horizons. Until that point, I was exclusively a cartoonist; but my parents and I believed I should step out of my comfort zone and gain experience with various art forms. I learned many lifelong lessons at Artisan Studio, such as how to sketch a human face (start with an upside-down egg, lightly make a vertical line down the center, etc.) and how to work with pastels.
With Marlene’s help, I was able to build my college portfolio, and I was accepted into the University of Delaware’s art program. I am on track to graduate this Spring. My fondest project at Artisan Studio was in 7th grade, when I built Wile E. Coyote out of papier-mâché. I remember being fascinated with the materials and the process in making such a sculpture, and I still have the finished piece in my bedroom. Next to television, art is my life. Even when I played sports and participated in other extracurricular activities, I knew art was my true calling. Hopefully, I’ll be able to combine both of my passions by creating an animated program. If there is one piece of advice I can give to young aspiring artists or creative thinkers, it would be to keep working with the talents you have, but to work on your weaker areas too. That way, you will become well-rounded, and that much closer to achieving your dreams. If I never took art classes, and only drew cartoons, there is no way I would have been excepted into UD’s art program, nor would I have a well-balanced portfolio to present to ad agencies and animation studios.

Jared Bayer”

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From as early as I can remember, I always had a knack for drawing. I was always looking for a piece of paper to draw on. My parents saw how much I loved to draw and decided to sign me up for art classes to enrich my knowledge. I first started taking the Drawing & Painting class on Saturday mornings when I was 12 years old. I loved it so much that I took it again, and again, and again! Many students did the same as well. It was very enjoyable and fun because everyone in class just simply loved to be there, making art. In every session we would learn something new, whether it was experimenting with a new medium such as pastels and watercolors, or learning to draw different things outside of what we usually do.

One of my favorite and most memorable projects I did was a cityscape perspective, which was a three-point perspective. I had never done a three-point perspective before, and this project certainly strengthened my depth perception, technique, and overall concentration. It also helped me think in 3D, all of which helped me develop my comprehension in technical drawing. And this is a skill I still use every single day.

Currently, I work on the Special Projects team for NYC Ferry and Hornblower Cruises, in charge of managing the design, construction, and delivery of new vessels. We review, approve, and reference over a hundred drawings...per boat! These drawings form the step-by-step IKEA guide to building vessels like a 350-passenger ferry boat destined to transport commuters to and from work, tourists from around the world, and provide a vital transportation link for the greatest city in the world. These drawings show every little nut and bolt on the boat, ranging from restroom piping details to structural frame arrangements to the Captain’s helm console. Now this is where the magic happens: translating what’s printed on a piece of paper to building the real thing. After construction is finished, our team inspects every inch of the boat to make sure everything is as it should be, always referring back to the drawings. The ability to read and comprehend these drawings requires the fundamental skills I learned and developed years ago on those Saturday mornings.

Although architects and engineers rely on computers nowadays to develop drawings and plans, we still sketch out our ideas and concepts on paper.

My advice to young creative thinkers: Find your passion and follow it. There’s a saying out there that goes, “If you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

-Christian ”