The Best Part of Art

Mr. Hewlett, Greenway’s 2-D and 3-D Art teacher of four years, knows how to make art fun for all! Before teaching here at Greenway, Mr. Hewlett displayed a strong passion and undying love for music that he continues to embody in his classroom every day. Interestingly enough, our outstanding Art teacher has been in a multitude of bands that often performed at restaurants, a few being The Van Buren Wheels and The Gnomes. His devotion to the arts has been incredibly significant to him throughout his life and working with these bands provided an opportunity to build people management skills. As the former manager of a restaurant, he noted that he enjoyed seeing people progress and wanted to combine that with his artistic abilities.

“I liked to see people be successful and happy, and so I thought that I would mix my talent for drawing and painting with training. It was just perfect for me,” Art teacher Mr. Hewlett said.

“Different teachers I’ve had throughout the years, even my teacher here at Greenway, Mr. Hutchinson, he was great, and I really liked his attitude,” Mr. Hewlett said. Although he could not recall any of the projects they had worked on in Mr. Hutchinson’s class, this teacher’s spirit and motivation enlightened him, and he even calls him his biggest inspiration. Teachers from colleges he had attended such as Glendale Community College and Arizona State University also impacted Mr. Hewlett. “Those are the different personalities that made me who I am,” Mr Hewlett said. Though he already has a position here at Greenway, Mr. Hewlett continues to push himself and is currently taking college classes at Eastern Iowa University to earn his masters degree in Art education!

Mr Hewlett’s art program allows students here at Greenway to be involved in school activities. Every year in the winter, Mr. Hewlett and his students in the Art club take time out of their week to paint the school’s Perkatory. Typically, the windows are coated in Christmas-themed characters to bring festivity to our school and allow students to embrace their artistic talents. The art club works hard to make our school colorful. Ordinarily, art club members appear at the school’s Demon Fest and set up a booth for face painting. Anyone can join the art club – even you!

Over the years, Greenway has had some impressive art achievements! Student Peyton Holly won first place in the district with her outstanding drawings. Mr Hewlett claimed to be incredibly proud of her and all of his students who enter their art in the Art show each year.

“I’m looking forward to this year; we have a lot of talented artists here, but it won’t be an easy competition,” Mr. Hewlett said. There is a lot of unique art to look forward to this school year!

“My favorite projects are most definitely the ones that the kids enjoy the most,” Mr. Hewlett said. Students in his 2-D class are given the opportunity to explore a vast range of media in art: charcoal, oil pastels, watercolor, and acrylic paint are just some of the different medias used. In 3-D art, students work with other materials like clay, newspaper, and even wiring! His class allows students to express themselves while having fun doing something they love and making friends along the way.

“I love being in Mr. Hewlett’s 3-D and 2-D art class. He’s so welcoming and encouraging and always assigns the best projects,” Senior Baylee Nichols said. Currently, 3-D art students are working with paper mache to create alebrijes.

Our inspiring art teacher works hard to teach students to express themselves, provides a safe environment for them to learn and have fun, and shares his love for the arts with the school!