Teaching Philosophy
Art is for everyone. It is a reflection of life and nourishment for the soul. Art enriches our lives. People from every culture create art because art helps us define ourselves and grapple with our existence.
Anyone can learn creative skills and become an artist or pursue a career in the arts. As an art educator, it is my mission to inspire and guide students to progress towards their goals. But even for those who do not want to pursue the arts as a career, I still recommend art study and art making to increase understanding of the world and tolerance for others, expand imagination, sharpen concentration and intensify creativity. These qualities are vital to life and to success in the job market. Getting along with people from cultures beyond your own requires understanding that can be found in the study of art history. Thinking up new ideas and ways to apply them requires both creativity and concentration. Being prepared for a life of unknowns and successfully adapting and navigating the future – that takes imagination, fueled in the art studio.
I encourage people of all ages to explore the arts. The world's extraordinary collection of art can help us learn about life on Earth, understand humanity and gain insights into current events, leading to a more peaceful future. Knowing why and when art was produced is enlightening because world art is steeped in philosophy, the sciences, the history of power and survival as well as the varied cultural beliefs about beauty, life, death and beyond. It is also enthralling to ponder the meaning of works we don’t fully understand. So inspired, we can take the next step – making art – to realize new ways of expressing ourselves and communicating with others today and with future generations.
While my art lessons include art history, they also include awareness of the work of some of today’s brightest artists from around the world, who are pushing the boundaries of art through new technologies, materials, tools and processes. My aim is to help students consider a myriad of communications possibilities for themselves; and, more importantly, to discover their own meaning making and enrichment through an art form that speaks passionately to them for the rest of their lives.
Art is for everyone. It is a reflection of life and nourishment for the soul. Art enriches our lives. People from every culture create art because art helps us define ourselves and grapple with our existence.
Anyone can learn creative skills and become an artist or pursue a career in the arts. As an art educator, it is my mission to inspire and guide students to progress towards their goals. But even for those who do not want to pursue the arts as a career, I still recommend art study and art making to increase understanding of the world and tolerance for others, expand imagination, sharpen concentration and intensify creativity. These qualities are vital to life and to success in the job market. Getting along with people from cultures beyond your own requires understanding that can be found in the study of art history. Thinking up new ideas and ways to apply them requires both creativity and concentration. Being prepared for a life of unknowns and successfully adapting and navigating the future – that takes imagination, fueled in the art studio.
I encourage people of all ages to explore the arts. The world's extraordinary collection of art can help us learn about life on Earth, understand humanity and gain insights into current events, leading to a more peaceful future. Knowing why and when art was produced is enlightening because world art is steeped in philosophy, the sciences, the history of power and survival as well as the varied cultural beliefs about beauty, life, death and beyond. It is also enthralling to ponder the meaning of works we don’t fully understand. So inspired, we can take the next step – making art – to realize new ways of expressing ourselves and communicating with others today and with future generations.
While my art lessons include art history, they also include awareness of the work of some of today’s brightest artists from around the world, who are pushing the boundaries of art through new technologies, materials, tools and processes. My aim is to help students consider a myriad of communications possibilities for themselves; and, more importantly, to discover their own meaning making and enrichment through an art form that speaks passionately to them for the rest of their lives.