Philosophy of Teaching
By merging my students’ interests and passions in art in an evolving, responsive, and often socially relevant way, my goal is not to necessarily shape artists, but to shape minds to think differently, creatively, and to sometimes reconnect with their imaginations. From those without any innate talent to the professionally trained, everyone can benefit from the essential human experience that is art-making. Ranging from the very young to the elderly, the populations that I welcome into my creative space continuously vary; however, my goal of facilitating the beneficial experience of creative expression in a safe, welcoming, and judgement-free environment is always maintained.
This environment then becomes more than just a creative space, it transforms into a place where talents and interests are cultivated and where meaningful relationships are fostered. Through in-depth conversations, my lessons are constantly adapted to better suit the needs of my students. By adopting diverse teaching methods and embracing a plethora of learning styles and varying skill levels, I strive to constantly find ways to foster everyone’s respective gifts, and to redefine the conventional and structured pedagogies that we are accustomed to. A great emphasis is put on the benefits of the trial and error of one’s creative process, which is far more purposeful than any final product. This ideology is not only relevant within my teachings, but within my personal art practice as well.
My process is one of self-exploration, experimentation, and often, a therapeutic outlet. When working on a piece, I try to plan its execution as little as possible as this tends to stifle my creativity, leaving more room to focus on the art-making process. I lay out all my materials so that they are ready to be selected and employed in a free-form manner allowing for my creativity to unfold organically. This type of creative freedom is one that I continuously strive to share with my learners. With this flexibility, students ranging from the detail oriented to the wildly expressive develop their own unique artistic styles; cultivating this ability to channel one’s interior world is far more valuable than any proficiency in formal techniques.
Teaching art is about so much more than simply transmitting the skills and knowledge needed to create artistic works. It is about using art as a tool to inspire creativity, self-understanding, and divergent thinking. As my teachings continue to evolve alongside the needs of those that I teach, my need to create lessons that challenge all skill levels, while making personal connections, remains the same.