By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

Darla McCammon and DeeAnna Muraski

WARSAW — We are back in class this week with an art teacher who instructs at Eisenhower and Harrison elementary schools in the Warsaw Community Schools district.

Kaitlyn Murphy graduated from Warsaw Community High School and then attended Wheaton College, earning her bachelor’s degree in art. After college, Murphy freelanced as a designer and illustrator; however, she felt led to instruct. She completed Taylor University’s Transition to Teaching program and has been teaching eight years in the school system.

Murphy loves inspiring all of her students, even those who feel they might not be good at art. She tells them, “Even great artists have room to improve.” She shows her students how they can turn even their mistakes into masterpieces. While allowing room for creativity, she also aligns her lessons with the art skills, elements, principles and terminology required through Indiana state standards.

Murphy likes that art teaches children the beauty of creating and looking at the world in new ways. The children can then turn that into an expression of what they see and feel. The budding students also learn hand-eye coordination, dexterity and attention to detail. Murphy fosters the aspect of teamwork by having them help each other clean up their art supplies, have group critiques and do group or whole class collaborative pieces. Murphy gets to learn, too, as she sees things from the perspective of her students’ little eyes and big minds.

Murphy’s favorite medium is watercolor and colored pencil. She freelances outside of work to help keep her skills current and on trend. In summer 2024, she was able to receive a Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship, which allowed her to travel along the coast of Maine and Prince Edward Island to paint en plein air (in the open air). Her favorite artist is Norman Rockwell and specifically his “The Four Freedoms” artwork pieces, which she got to experience in person.

To Go

The Norman Rockwell Museum: Located in Norman Rockwell’s hometown of Stockbridge, Mass., it’s an 11-hour car ride from Warsaw, or catch a plane in Fort Wayne. Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” are intact and all together at the museum. Rockwell created them in response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the Union speech reiterating the importance of these four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Visit the website at nrm.org. Along with Rockwell paintings and memorabilia, the current exhibit is on artist Anita Kunz’s portrait series of impactful women throughout history. The museum’s address is 9 Glendale Road, Route 183, Stockbridge, Mass. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and it’s closed Wednesday and holidays.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author. DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. Send an email to the mother/daughter team at [email protected].