Art follows Charlene Bergen wherever she goes. Or maybe it's the other way around.

Bergen retired as the long-standing McDonald County High School Art teacher last year. But, she continues to tirelessly pursue art in her retirement.

She currently operates the districtwide Art on the Van Gogh bus program. She travels from campus to campus supplementing students' art history and providing an additional creative outlet.

The idea for the bus was born at a meeting of local art teachers earlier this year.

In a matter of months, Bergen and a group of creative volunteers had painted the bus with a stunning rendition of Vincent Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night" painting. Inside, the seats have been removed to make way for work space. A counter top with stools and art tools runs the length of one side, while the other side provides Bergen an area for teaching and a another table where students can create.

McDonald County's Art on the Van Gogh bus made it's maiden voyage last month to Mustang Academy in Anderson. The academy is an alternative school for students grades 9-12 who best excel outside of the standard classroom environment.

Before each visit, Bergen chooses a character word, then forms an art project and artist feature around the selected theme. September's word was "respect" with a focus on the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is a renowned painter who wasn't appreciated until after his death.

"In fact, he only sold one painting in his lifetime," Bergen said.

While she recounted the tale of Van Gogh -- including his stay in a psychiatric ward that led to his most famous work -- students decorated a rock with their personal depictions of the word "respect." Some students chose vibrant colors and bold, block letters, while others opted for flowing cursive letters and cool hues.

Students also designed a pattern on a ceramic tile with permanent marker and dropped alcohol onto the image to create a watercolor effect.

As they finished, Bergen touched on the importance of respect, both for yourself and for others, as well as the significance your respect can have on another's life.

"Art is in most things we do," she said, "but character is in everything."

Bergen provided students with one more project to begin and take home with them if they chose. She handed out a copy of the word "respect" sketched in a graffiti-style and gridded for replication. She asked them to grid a separate piece of paper and sketch the image, paying special attention to the shading and the value scales represented.

Like respect, art is learned, she said.

"Every day, start the practice of being respectful," Bergen told students. "There will be good days and bad days, but we have to try."

Students exited the Art Bus with a new-found sense of excitement.

"I love it," Megan Gregory said. "I hope she comes back.

Another student, Braden Hixon, said he planned to finish the pencil shading project at home.