When teaching art my goal is to inspire my students to grow creatively. As an artist, I view the world through a set of eyes that is always searching for a sense of aesthetic fulfillment. My mind is actively engaged in what I see, smell, and feel. Through these experiences, I am able to see the beauty and art in the everyday and be inspired by these exercises of mindfulness. I teach my students to see the world with an open mind and I believe this can be achieved through the making, studying and understanding of art. Art making can be a personal journey or a group endeavor, both of which yield a sense of self-fulfillment.
I explore art in my classroom by creating an active and open learning environment where questions and curiosities are embraced. Students are encouraged to raise questions and problems, which will lead to experimentation and promote problem-solving. I believe art should be an honest exploration of oneself. I am flexible in the sense that my students are not asked to create cookie-cutter final pieces, but encouraged to put a part of themselves into everything they make as long as the final piece shows a profound understanding of the lesson. This is often referred to as "student-directed learning" and I fully embrace this school of thought.
I love providing students with sensory experiences and material exploration. Giving them the space and permission to fully explore, experiment, fail and try again. Getting messy is just part of the fun!
I aim to also use art as a tool to promote thinking and opinion making. I encourage my students to talk openly about what they like and dislike in their own work and the work of others. Part of my teaching involves open floor discussions, which, not only help my students articulate their opinions, but also help them develop into individuals with ideas of their own.
As a teacher, I respect and care about my students and believe that we are all born artists. I do not allow my students to tell me that they can't draw or that they are not artists. Like the late Pablo Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”