Art & Design Education
"…If you hear a voice within you say
'you cannot paint,'
then by all means paint
and that voice will be silenced."
- Vincent Van Gogh
'you cannot paint,'
then by all means paint
and that voice will be silenced."
- Vincent Van Gogh
Teaching Philosophy
The experiences of discovery and fulfillment are two of the more important goals I strive to achieve in my classroom. My students will learn that there are no finite answers, there can be multiple solutions, and there are many perspectives and ways of interpreting the world. Through student-centered learning objectives, I invite them to take risks, experiment, make mistakes and learn from them. I want my students to make sense of their own life experiences through the discoveries made when creating artwork. In turn, they will develop their creative abilities and express their inner voices.
Providing students with such experiences will also facilitate a great reflection on and respect towards the similarities and differences between their life experiences and those of their peers. Making these connections will help them confidently navigate life's many obstacles and complexities with profound empathy, compassion and open-minds. In forming concerns and sensibilities beyond the limits of personal experience, as art educator Olivia Gude states, artistic explorations will also subsequently instill values of social interdependence, equality and free thought.
My students will become creative thinkers as they regularly question and explore the ideas, materials and the possibilities art brings. Much of the takeaways in my classroom will revolve around the process of art making, instead of just the final product. Through exploration of materials and ideas, students will develop their critical thinking skills and successfully learn to analyze visual components such as composition, color, material and the principles of design. They will develop a more reasoned perception of art as a tool as well as its relationship to the world as they engage with images, forms, stories and feelings. The process of creating a work should aim to teach them something new. As a result, students will develop a broad skill set of strong problem solving, decision-making, independent learning and investigation.
Exposing my students to all arrays of art is also a key component to my teaching philosophy. Introducing them to contemporary art of today is just as important as introducing them to traditional master works that have shaped art’s history. Likewise, investigating non-western art as much as western art will facilitate an even broader understanding of art’s universal language in different cultures and further enhance students’ capacities to form their own personal ideas. Furthermore, understanding the many approaches to art can be a gateway to exploring art in interdisciplinary studies. Field trips may also serve as an important supplement to my students’ learning to discuss art through open-ended inquiry.
My classroom will help students unearth the endless possibilities art making can provide whether creatively, personally or developmentally. Through learning about, discussing and creating art, students will inherently learn about themselves, each other and the world we live in. I am passionate about the importance of art being both an outlet and a means of self-expression and am eager to share this enthusiasm through dynamic, hands-on activities and projects that encourage experimentation and play. My students will leave my classroom feeling open-minded, reflective, curious, confident and inspired.
Providing students with such experiences will also facilitate a great reflection on and respect towards the similarities and differences between their life experiences and those of their peers. Making these connections will help them confidently navigate life's many obstacles and complexities with profound empathy, compassion and open-minds. In forming concerns and sensibilities beyond the limits of personal experience, as art educator Olivia Gude states, artistic explorations will also subsequently instill values of social interdependence, equality and free thought.
My students will become creative thinkers as they regularly question and explore the ideas, materials and the possibilities art brings. Much of the takeaways in my classroom will revolve around the process of art making, instead of just the final product. Through exploration of materials and ideas, students will develop their critical thinking skills and successfully learn to analyze visual components such as composition, color, material and the principles of design. They will develop a more reasoned perception of art as a tool as well as its relationship to the world as they engage with images, forms, stories and feelings. The process of creating a work should aim to teach them something new. As a result, students will develop a broad skill set of strong problem solving, decision-making, independent learning and investigation.
Exposing my students to all arrays of art is also a key component to my teaching philosophy. Introducing them to contemporary art of today is just as important as introducing them to traditional master works that have shaped art’s history. Likewise, investigating non-western art as much as western art will facilitate an even broader understanding of art’s universal language in different cultures and further enhance students’ capacities to form their own personal ideas. Furthermore, understanding the many approaches to art can be a gateway to exploring art in interdisciplinary studies. Field trips may also serve as an important supplement to my students’ learning to discuss art through open-ended inquiry.
My classroom will help students unearth the endless possibilities art making can provide whether creatively, personally or developmentally. Through learning about, discussing and creating art, students will inherently learn about themselves, each other and the world we live in. I am passionate about the importance of art being both an outlet and a means of self-expression and am eager to share this enthusiasm through dynamic, hands-on activities and projects that encourage experimentation and play. My students will leave my classroom feeling open-minded, reflective, curious, confident and inspired.