Deana Neibert

Welcome To Deana's Page

Deana Neibert, a native Oklahoman, spent the first 18 years of her adult life teaching theatre. In Oklahoma, she was the drama and stagecraft teacher at Edmond Memorial High School where she was a member of the International Thespian Society. While at EMHS, Deana directed over 30 plays and musicals. In 2010, her husband, Lee was offered a job as a theatre professor at USC Upstate. Deana then moved to South Carolina where she was the managing director of the Spartanburg Youth Theatre. Although Deana spent many hours designing and painting sets, making props, and sewing costumes, she decided to trade the stage for a paintbrush. In 2016, Deana decided that she was ready to study art full time and attended USC Upstate in order to become certified to teach art. Deana currently teaches art to children at the YMCA, in local schools as an Artist in Residence, and teaches privately. Deana also teaches art to special needs adults at USC Upstate. Deana’s latest artworks have been in shows at USC Upstate, The Chapman Cultural Center and The Kentucky Derby Museum. Deana is thrilled to join Whizkidme family and cannot wait for you to visit her classes.

Contact Me

my Classes

class plan

Spring Semester

Artapalooza | 9-14 | Progressive

Week 

Session Topic/Theme

Course Structure

Students will do &  learn: 

Materials needed 

1

Elements of Art:  Line and Pattern


A “Bad” Zentangle Hair Day

Part 1

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content: What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create line and pattern (elements of art) by drawing their own unique zentangle “bad” hair day.  

  1. What are the elements of art and how do we use them?
  2. What is line?  What is pattern?  
  3. What is a zentangle? (see other artist’s zentangle art)
  4. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  5. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their understanding about line and pattern and show their piece so far.  We will discuss what we will do next week.


  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • eraser,
  • Black sharpie (a black marker will do)
  • a full page picture of themselves or a celebrity (does not need to be in color)
  • Scissors
  • Glue (white or stick)
  • Colored pencils
  • Table cover (if needed)

2

Elements of Art:  Line and Pattern


A “Bad” Zentangle Hair Day

Part 2

Intro: Review

  1. Review line, pattern and zentangle and how it relates to the art piece we began last week.  
  2. Students will share any work they did on their art piece since we last met.
  3. We will go over all materials needed for today’s class.

.


Content:  What are we going to 

  1. Review what their final art piece should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their
    “Bad” Zentangle Hair Day art piece.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.

  • Artwork from last week
  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • eraser,
  • Black sharpie (a black marker will do)
  • Scissors
  • Glue (white or stick)
  • Colored pencils
  • Table cover (if needed)



3 

Elements of Art: Shape and Form


Cubism is Alright With Me

Part 1

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are and any art pieces they have created since we last met.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create shape and form  (elements of art) by drawing and painting their own Cubist art piece.

  1. What are the elements of art and how do we use them?
  2. What is shape?  What is form?  
  3. What is Cubism? (study Picasso’s Cubist art pieces)
  4. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  5. Begin drawing our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their understanding about line and pattern and show their piece so far.  We will discuss what we will do next week.

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • Watercolors
  • paintbrush and water cup
  • An item from around your house that you can sketch in class
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • black sharpie
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Colored paper 
  • Table cover (if needed)

4

Elements of Art: Shape and Form


Cubism is Alright With Me

Part 2



Intro: Review

  1. Review line, pattern and zentangle and how it relates to the art piece we began last week.  
  2. Students will share any work they did on their art piece since we last met.
  3. We will go over all materials needed for today’s class.

.

Content:  What are we going to 

  1. Review what their final art piece should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their
    Cubism is Alright With Me art piece.


Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • Watercolors
  • paintbrush and water cup
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • black sharpie
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Colored paper
  • Table cover (if needed)

5

Elements of Art: Color and Value


 Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Part 1

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are and present any artwork they have done outside of class.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create color and value  (elements of art) by drawing and painting their own Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

  1. What are the elements of art and how do we use them?
  2. What is color?  What is value?
  3. Who is Van Gogh and what did his sunflowers look like? (study Van Gogh’s sunflower art piece)
  4. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  5. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their understanding about color and value and show their piece so far.  We will discuss what we will do next week. 




  • White paper (the heavier the better),
  • Watercolors
  • paint brush and water cup
  • Crayons or oil pastels
  • pencil 
  • Eraser
  • Table cover (if needed)




6

Elements of Art: Color and Value


 Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Part 2

Intro: Review

  1. Review color and value and how it relates to the art piece we began last week.  
  2. Students will share any work they did on their art piece since we last met.
  3. We will go over all materials needed for today’s class.

.

Content:  What are we going to 

  1. Review what their final art piece should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their
    Cubism is Alright With Me art piece.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.




  • White paper (the heavier the better),
  • Watercolors
  • paint brush and water cup
  • pencil 
  • Eraser
  • Table cover (if needed)

7

Elements of Art:

Texture

A Moonscape Collage

Part 1

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are and what they have learned about their own art making process.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do

Young artists will discover how to create texture  (element of art) by creating their Moonscapes using collage techniques.

  1.  Review:  What are the elements of art and how do we use them?
  2. What is texture and how can we create it in our own art?
  3. Look at other artist’s interpretations of texture.
  4. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  5. Begin our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.

  • Scissors
  • Glue (white or stick)
  • White oil pastel (white crayon will do)
  • Magazines for cutting (colorful junk mail works too)
  • Table cover
  • Pencil and eraser
  • White paper (copy paper will do)
  • Table cover (if needed)

8

Elements of Art:

Texture

A Moonscape Collage

Part 2

Intro: Review

  1.  What is texture and why is it important in art?
  2. Students will share any work they did on their art piece since we last met.
  3. Students will ask any questions about texture or their art pieces.

Content:  What are we going to 

  1.  Review what their final art piece should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their textured Moonscape collages.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art.  We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.

  • Scissors
  • Glue (white or stick)
  • White oil pastel (white crayon will do)
  • Magazines for cutting (colorful junkmail works too)
  • Table cover
  • Pencil and eraser
  • White paper (copy paper will do)
  • Table cover (if needed)

9

Elements of Art:

Space

Notan Art and Positive and Negative Space Reversal Collage

Part 1

Intro: Getting to know you

Young artists will share who they are and what they have learned so far about their own art process.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do

Young artists will discover how to create space  (an element of art) by creating their own art piece using techniques of Notan art and positive and negative space.

  1. Review:  What are the elements of art and how do we use them?
  2. What is space and how can we create it in our own art?
  3. What is Notan Art and how does it use positive and negative space.
  4. Look at other artist’s interpretations of Notan Art and other uses of positive and negative space.
  5. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  1. Begin our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Vocabulary:  Space, positive and negative space, positive and negative space reversal, symmetrical balance, Notan Art


Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed.

  • Construction paper of various colors
  • Pencils and erasers
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Plastic sandwich baggies
  • Table cover (if needed)
  • Table cover (if needed)

10

Elements of Art:

Space

Notan Art and Positive and Negative Space Reversal Collage

Part 2

Intro: Review

  1. What is space and why is it important in art?
  2. What is positive and negative space and Notan art/
  3. Students will share any work they did on their art piece since we last met.
  1. Students will ask any questions about texture or their art pieces.

Content:  What are we going to 

  1. Review what their final art piece should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their textured Moonscape collages.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and we will learn how to positively critique art. They will discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. We will also cover what we will do next week and the materials and supplies needed. 

  • Construction paper of various colors
  • Pencils and erasers
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Plastic sandwich baggies
  • Table cover (if needed)

11

Putting All the Elements Together

Opening:  Review

  1.  What are the elements of art and how did we use them in each art piece

Content: Putting It All Together

  1.  Discuss our final art piece and what it should look like.
  2. Review materials and how to use them.
  3. Young artists will finish their Elements of Art art piece..

Closing:  What did we do and what will we do next week?

  1.  Students will show how we each used which elements 
  2. Review what students need to have ready for next week”s class.
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Ruler or straight edge
  • Color makers of your choice
  • Table cover (if needed)

12

Artapalooza! Discovering the Elements of Art

Art Show

Opening:  Who are we and what did we do?

Young artists will introduce themselves and help the instructor to explain what we learned this semester about the elements of art.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will present 2 art works and read their artist’s statement for each.


Closing:  Goodbyes 

We will end our semester class with a preview of the upcoming semester of art classes and finish with saying our goodbyes.

2 art pieces

An artist statement for each

Friends and family

 

12

Putting All the Elements Together and Getting Ready for our Art Show

Opening:  Review

  1. What are the elements of art and how did we use them in each art piece.
  2. Discuss our final day together and our art show.

Content: Putting It All Together

  1.  What is an art show?
  2. What is an artist’s statement and how do we write one?
  3. Pick 2 pieces of art and write an artist’s statement for each.
  4. Practice our art show.

Closing:  What did we do and what will we do next week?

  1.  Review the presentation of our art show
  2. Answer questions
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Writing paper
  • 2 pieces of art work from this semester
  • Art work and supplies from last week

 

13

Artapalooza! Discovering the Elements of Art

Art Show

Opening:  Who are we and what did we do?

Young artists will introduce themselves and help the instructor to explain what we learned this semester about the elements of art.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will present 2 art works and read their artist’s statement for each.


Closing:  Goodbyes 

We will end our semester class with a preview of the upcoming semester of art classes and finish with saying our goodbyes.

2 art pieces

An artist statement for each

Friends and family

Spring Semester

Artapalooza | 4-8 | Drop-In

 
 

Week

Session Topic/Theme

Class Structure 

Students will do & learn: 

Materials needed 

1

Zentangle Fish



Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content: What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create line and pattern (elements of art) by drawing their own unique zentangle fish/bad hair day.  

  1. What is line?  What is pattern?  
  2. What is a zentangle? (see other artist’s zentangle art)
  3. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  4. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 


  • White paper
  • pencil and eraser
  • color makers (markers, crayons or colored pencils)
  • Table cover (if needed)



2

The Happy Turtle



Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create shape and form  (elements of art) by drawing and coloring their own Happy Turtle


  1. What is shape?  What is form?  
  2. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  3. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 

  • White paper
  • pencil and eraser
  • color makers (marker, crayons or colored pencil)
  • Black marker or Sharpie
  • Table cover (if needed)




3 

Delightful Little Flowers



Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create color and value  (elements of art) by drawing and painting their own Delightful Little Flowers


  1. What is color?  What is value?  
  2. What do flowers look like?
  3. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  4. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • watercolors*
  • paint brush and water cup
  • pencil and eraser
  • Table cover (if needed)

*If watercolors aren’t available, markers or colored pencils will work too.

4

I Like Cupcakes, yes I do!  

I Like Cupcakes, how about you?

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw, through guided drawing,  and decorate their own cupcakes using collage techniques.


  1. What is collage?
  2. What is guided drawing? 
  3. What elements are in the perfect cupcake? 
  1. Description of our art piece and how we will accomplish it.
  2. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 



  • White paper
  • Various colored papers (magazine pages, junk mail, colored paper)
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Color makers
  • (crayons, colored pencils, markers, oil pastels)
  • Table cover (if needed)

5

Spring Landscapes, Oh My!

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create basic spring landscapes using space (an element of art) and foreground, middle ground and background.

  1. What is a landscape?
  2. What is the art element space and how do we use it in our art?
  3. What is foreground, middle ground and background in a landscape.
  4. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 

  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Color makers (crayons, marker, colored pencils, oil pastels)
  • Table cover (if needed)

6

Artistic Insects

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw a symmetrical artistic insect.

  1. What is symmetry and how is it used in art?
  2. What techniques can we use to make something symmetrical?
  3. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black crayon or black oil pastel
  • Watercolors (if watercolors aren’t available, markers or crayons will work too)
  • Paintbrush
  • Water in a cup
  • Paper Towels
  • Table covering (if needed)

7

I Scream, You Scream, 

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.

Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw an ice cream cone using guided drawing and line and pattern. 

  1. What is guided drawing and how do we do it?
  2. What is line and pattern and how do we use them?
  3. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces. 

  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black marker
  • Color makers (crayons, markers, colored pencils, oil pastels)
  • Table covering (if needed)

8

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Spring Flowers

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.

Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover who was Georgia O’ Keeffe and what was her contribution to the art world.  They will then use her flowers as inspiration to make their own art piece using warm and cool colors. 

  1. Who was Georgia O’Keeffe and what did her flowers look like?
  2. How can we use her flowers as inspiration to make our own big and bold flowers?
  3. What are warm and cool colors?
  1. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces

  • White paper (the thicker the better)
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black marker or crayon
  • Markers or crayons
  • Various colors of tissue paper or various colors of construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Table cover (if needed)

9

Hundertwassert and His Lollipop Trees

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw and paint lollipop trees in the style of Friendensreich Hundertwasster. 

  1.  Who was Friedensreich Hundertwasster and what did his art look like?
  2. What are his lollipop trees?
  3. What would your dream lollipop look like?
  4. Make our art piece in the style of Hundertwassert while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • Crayons or oil pastels
  • Watercolors (if watercolors aren’t available, markers will do)
  • Paintbrush
  • Water cup
  • Paper Towels
  • Table cover (if needed)

10

Clunk, Clank, Beep!

Let’s Draw Robots

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.

Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw a dynamic and fun robot using line and shape. (Element of art)

  1. What is line and shape?
  2. What do robots look like in our present time?
  3. What do you think future robots look like?
  4. Make our art piece through guided drawing and using line and shape, while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces

  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black marker (black crayon, oil pastel or colored pencil will work too)
  • Color makers (markers, crayons, colored pencils or oil pastels)
  • Table cover (if needed)

11

Beautiful Butterflies

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.

Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw a beautiful butterfly through guided drawing and a symmetry technique.

  1. What is guided drawing and how do we do it?
  2. What is symmetry and where does it appear in nature?
  3. What do butterflies look like?
  4. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces

  • White paper (the heavier the better)
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black crayon or oil paste
  • Watercolors (if watercolors aren’t available, marker or crayons will do)
  • Water Cup
  • Paper Towels
  • Paintbrush
  • Water Cup
  • Table cover (if needed)

12

I’m Beautiful, Inside and Out

Self Portraits 

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to draw a self portrait using correct facial proportion and then using inside and outside traits to add decoration.

  1. What is a self portrait?
  2. Why are self portraits important for an artist?
  3. What is correct facial proportion and how do I do it?
  4. How do I find my own beauty both inside and out and how do I put that into my art?
  5. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces.

  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Color maker (any that you would like to use today)
  • Decorations that show your inner and outer beauty ( stickers, glitter, leaves, flower petals, ribbon, pictures, cutouts from magazine are a few examples)
  • Glue (liquid glue is better than glue sticks for attaching items)
  • Table cover (if needed)

 

13

Warhol and His Donuts 

Intro: Getting to know you: 

Young artists will share who they are, what previous art experience they have, and what art means to them.  We will also go over all materials needed.


Content:  What are we going to do?

Young artists will discover how to create Pop-Art in the style of Andy Warhol.  

  1.  What is the Pop-Art movement?
  2. Who was Andy Warhol and what did his art look like?
  3. Make our art piece while learning or reviewing how to use materials.

Closing: What did we do?

Young artists will share their artwork and discuss how they might use learned techniques in future art pieces.

  • White paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Color maker-Oil pastels or crayons, water colors
  • Water cup
  • Paintbrush
  • Ruler (optional)
  • Table cover (if needed)

Using The Class Plan

Please Note: Both Age Groups (if applicable) will follow the same class plan structure and content. The content delivery will  be tailored to the age group.