Northwest Elementary teacher captures her class in caricatures

Sixth-grade students at Northwest Elementary School will be leaving their elementary school years behind with a unique gift — a caricature drawn by art teacher Linda Hoover.

The drawings are a tradition at the school and generations of students have taken them home to treasure.

Hoover, an artist known for her colorful watercolors and portraits, said she has been drawing caricatures for more than 20 years.

“I’ve done caricatures at graduation lock-ins, small fairs and the Missouri State Fair,” Hoover said.

The artist even did portrait sketches while on a mission trip in September of 2009 to the Republic of Georgia.

Since Hoover has a passion for art, the caricatures just seemed like a fitting gift for the students she has taught for years. The student portrait sessions also give her a chance to spend quality one-on-one time with each sixth-grade student.

“It’s a nice quiet time,” she said.

Hoover said the children are “amazingly unselfconscious” and comfortable with direct eye contact while sitting for the short sessions.

“They are the center of interest for just a little bit.”

Hoover begins the portraits in the last quarter of school, calling each student in individually to sit for their caricature. Each session takes 15 minutes and Hoover uses the time to chat with the students.

“I ask them what their plans are for the summer and if they’ve made up their mind about a career,” she said, “and if they have any special or unique talents I use that time to compliment or reinforce that.”

Sixth-grader Clayton Townsend, 12, said he enjoyed have his portrait drawn by Hoover.

“I liked sitting for the portrait” he said. “It was cool to watch her.”

Clayton said his hair was his favorite part of the drawing and that he also liked the fact Hoover added the freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheeks.

“The freckles make it more like me,” he said.

Hoover does the 11-inch by 14-inch drawings in black and white because it is faster and she prefers it for caricatures.

“I’m comfortable doing black and white,” she said.

Each portrait is laminated and hung on a hallway bulletin for everyone to see before the students take them home at the end of the year.

Beau Slaughter, 11, remembers when his 14-year-old sister brought her drawing home and he was looking forward to having one of his own.

“It is a caricature and a portrait,” Beau said. “I like the way she blended them.”

Julia Tupchiy, 11, said she felt Hoover captured her perfectly in the portrait.

“She did good on the hair,” Julia said, “and I’m a picky hair person.”

Shelby Bryson, 12, said she was pleased by the gift because it came from Hoover.

“Mrs. Hoover is a good artist,” Shelby said. “I’m going to hang this in my room.”

Hoover said many of the students are thrilled with the autographed portraits because they think they might be valuable one day.

“Some think I’m going to be famous and they are going to get rich off these drawings,” she said.