Over 600 Lakeview Kids Paint Murals on Canvas

The students at Lakeview Elementary in Lakeville all took part in painting several murals over the past two weeks.

Local artist Shane Anderson led the students and parent volunteers in the art project, which was funded by the Lakeview PTO and with donations of art supplies, buckets and rags. The Lakeview PTO raised the funds for the project from a walk-a-thon last fall, explained Laura Taylor, Lakeview Elementary PTO chair.

Anderson taught the students painting techniques, such as shading, and gave them time to practice those techniques using colored pencils on their own mini-projects.

Art, Anderson said, helps "get kids creative and working outside the box."

The project at Lakeview is Anderson's fourth project with a large group of children.

Every grade level, kindergarten through 5th grade, worked on their own mural and additional murals had the participation of every student for a total of 10 three by four foot murals. Students brainstormed the elements they wanted in the murals, such as anti-bullying, recycling, sports and iPads, Taylor explained. 

Each mural belonging to a grade level has the high school graduation year and a cougar paw. Once complete, the murals will hang on hallway walls at Lakeview Elementary. 

As the students move on from Lakeview, they can still return to the murals at Lakeview and say, "I did that." Anderson said in a sentiment echoed by Taylor.

Anderson continued, "It's all about motivating the kids."

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