Lake art teacher creates nature-inspired studio for young artists

        Nature and art have always been two passions of Laura Lohmann.
        The Lake Local Schools art teacher has taken inspiration from European schools that teach outdoors and have outside art studios for their students. Having taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Toledo, she is very knowledgeable about an educational philosophy from Reggio Emilia, Italy. This philosophy promotes community projects, nature and using natural items in the classroom.
        When she was notified that Lake teachers would be teaching in person, she jumped right into designing and planning to turn the school’s unused courtyard into a colorful, natured-inspired art studio for Lake’s smallest artists. Finding inexpensive items on Facebook Marketplace, she painted a child’s playhouse to look like famous artist Vincent VanGogh’s yellow house.
        Lohmann’s husband also built a pallet table for displaying nature specimens that her students can view for inspiration.
        “I really want our students to love school, nature and creating art. Knowing that they would be wearing masks, I wanted them to come out to the courtyard to relax, get some fresh air and create their personal mini masterpieces of art.
        “The kids are loving being out in nature and creating during this pandemic,” she said.