Teaching Statement

We all learn differently. As an arts educator, I work to connect with each individual student, identify personal motivators and coach them through the making process to create pieces to the best of their ability. Visual art practices aid in the development of communication skills and are valuable to every student’s education. I guide students through developing design and hand skills, articulating concepts, analyzing artwork, and identifying their own aesthetic. I nurture their communication skills through group discussion and critiques of their artwork and written statements. I challenge them to create work about topics that reflect personal passions and identity. Through lectures and assigned reading I expose them to related history and contemporary practices. I believe that for students to be successful in the visual arts they need competency with current software programs and introduction to new technology in the classroom. I hope to set an example for my students about the discipline of study through my mental and physical devotion to the arts.

 It is my goal that students understand possibilities and limitations of material and how it translates into the overall viewing experience of works of art. I understand the importance learning through direct application of material studies. I demonstrate different techniques and approaches to working with various materials and give students assignments and time to learn through direct interaction with materials. Students then can apply these skills to larger assignments with greater conceptual depth.

 My passion for teaching is grounded in my belief that everyone has the potential to express ideas creatively. I believe in the value of art education and that exposure and practice in the visual arts has a great impact on every student’s career and life experiences. I hope to keep finding new ways of engaging students with overlapping modes of influences across studies and media.I want students to walk away from my class noticing design, craft and visual art in the world around them, with a newfound confidence that they can participate in the conversation.