teaching Philosophy

Creativity is the most valuable commodity. The ability to conceive and produce, innovate and create; are foundational to the continuation and growth of our society. For we need people who can imagine new products and dream a new world around us. We need to make art a priority and allow students opportunities that facilitate creative growth and visual expression.

You cannot expect every student to be a master painter. Because of this reality, I strive to guide students through several art mediums. This allows students to experience many different processes in the art room. Once students have experienced several different mediums, I guide them to work on larger projects in their desired medium. These projects are opportunities to explore creatively in a medium that inspires and engages them. Think of my classroom as a creative buffet- a place where you can try many different items, then enjoy the one you like most. Communication is paramount in the art room. Art and creativity do not happen in a vacuum; it must be discussed, interpreted, and shared. This process referred to as critique, is critical and needs to occur at every step along the creative process. Through this teamwork is encouraged and ideas can be shared. Analysis can take place in small groups, pairs, or the whole class. Allowing for fresh eyes and new approaches to inspire students work. Critiques in the art room are not just verbal; they also take place in a written format. This encourages students to share their opinions without the pressure of having to share in front of the whole class. Exploration and identification are vital skills to develop in the art room. This is an opportunity for pupils to discover and quantify what interests them. At the beginning of class, students are asked to identify and explain what things they consider to be exceptional art. As an example, is a perfect rendering of a photograph art? Alternatively, is the opposite, an abstract piece, their ideal form of expression. This approach allows students to quantify what inspires them. It also encourages inspiration and gives them a direction to pursue in their work. This process can be used for every project and allows for the incorporation of critical thinking, art history, and grammar, in the art room.

Creativity is a quality that is inside all humans. Some are good at tapping into this creative energy, while some need the use of structure to develop their creative potential. This original structure is called the design process; thankfully, it does not only apply to design. The process starts with a question, problem, observation, or prompt. From there, creatives explore “solutions,” responses that serve as answers to the initial prompt. During exploration research will be necessary; this is a chance to examine the problem. Several options are chosen for refinement and expansion, and finally, one is executed and completed. The cycle is then repeated. By using this structure as a tool, all students are assured exciting outcomes. This process allows students to be creative on demand, removing the pressure to be creative all the time.