After an art teaching career spanning sixty-four years, Sister Helen Buening is pleased to present her book, Masters Then and Now - fifty art lessons for ages 5 through 95. Each lesson is inspired by a study of a Master print including ancient to contemporary masters, men and women, realists and surrealists, primitive and sophisticated. The lessons are multi-cultural including artists from different cultures of many countries and of several periods of history.

   Designed for simplicity of use, the book will serve as a guide for classroom instructors, for home school instruction and for personal use of individuals. Objectives for each lesson are clearly stated. The works of Master artists are presented as catalyst to the creative processes.

   Yet in spite of the variety, the lessons embody common everyday subject matter. They present ideas that stimulate and challenge the young artists to go from what is known to new ventures which will open minds, eyes, hearts, and feelings. They awaken awareness to what is and create a new awareness of what could be.

   Sister Helen's commitment to aesthetics fuels the lessons as she weaves allegorical narratives, music and dance form the contextual clues of the Master's art to empower young artist. "Sister Helen is absolutely magical in the classroom" said Gloria Davis, Executive Director of the Atchison Art Association, "The children are transformed. Sister draws work out of the students they didn't know they were capable of."

    Sister Helen studied art at the Kansas City Art Institute, Washington University of ST, Louis, the Chicago Art Institute and Notre Dame University where she received the Master of Fine Arts.

    Her teaching career began in 1937 at the elementary and progressed though high school and college. While teaching, she saw the need for more art at the elementary level. Responding to that need, in 1960 she wrote an art education series. God's Finger in Art which was used in the Kansas City Archdiocese. In 1986 she resigned from Mount Saint Scholastica and began working in a new dimension of art. She became the "picture Lady" taking her Master prints and art lessons to all of the elementary schools in the Atchison area.

    In 1990, she became legally blind. However, with her magnifying glass, she continues her work: teaching and writing. At the age of eighty, after encouragement from colleagues and former students, she began work on her book which she successfully completed at the age of 85.

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