Teaching Philosophy

Art adds beauty to the world and is a way of communicating with the world. Art is most interesting when we understand the context, story, and meaning, either as intended by the artist or through the experiences we bring when viewing the artwork. As an art teacher, my goal is to help students: 

• Understand context and meaning of existing art 

• Develop the technical skills to make their own art

• Define and communicate their message, meaning, and story visually 

To introduce art projects, I lead students in discussion of artwork or a book that inspires the techniques and themes we will be exploring. I thoughtfully select a range of art styles and artists including women and men from a variety of time periods, places, races, and cultures. I include an image of the artist so that over the arc of my art curriculum, students will see at least one artist who looks like their family. During art lessons, I also guide students to make connections to the broader art world through learning specific art terms, techniques, and history. I often make connections to science, social studies, and math. 

I then teach specific art skills. During the practice phase, students make sketches and learn to use the medium. This provides space for exploration and risk-taking to build skills. With increased confidence, students can then focus on adding personal interests to their final projects while applying newly learned skills.

I design final projects that combine specific art skills with students' personal interests and ideas. We begin by brainstorming and creating sketches so I can help students select which of their ideas will be most successful for the particular project. As students work, I ask questions, suggest additional explorations, and encourage them to figure out why things did or did not work as expected. These conversations help students learn to critique their own work and embrace their process and learning. I feel I have met my goal when students can independently evaluate their work and decide what needs more attention. I love the moment when they look at their artwork from a distance and gasp in wonder, “that is the best art I have ever made!”

Teaching small groups and individual students allows me to customize lessons to students’ interests and abilities. Private lessons provide students the opportunity to work with me to decide what skills and projects best meet their personal interests and goals. Small groups with similar interests can work with me in similar ways. For those who love art but don’t have specific goals and projects already in mind, I design and teach a variety of Project-focused and Technique-focused workshops. These are similar to summer camp or community art center classes, but with the opportunity for you to request your schedule and invite friends to join you. The Gallery of Workshops continues to grow, so check back to see what’s new. (See Workshop, small group lesson, and private lesson descriptions for more detailed information. )

As a life-long learner and active artist, as well as a teacher, I provide students an example of self-motivated learning and art creation. (Visit the Gallery of my Artwork)