Amos, 1st Grade, One Point Perspective, pencil and crayon. My fellow students and I were given the chance to interview and listen to a seasoned teacher talk about a long career in the public school system as an art teacher. The teacher had a great deal of confidence and knowledge of worth, and place in the system, it was admirable. As far as big ideas I heard a lot about systems, a well-working machine, and how to pump kids through efficiently.
Something has been nagging at me ever since was the the lesson presented. I never have my students outline their work in sharpie. It just never occurred to me. I think it definitely has a place in it use, like graphic design, or when you NEED clean lines, not to prolong a lesson. The lesson presented was based in design but it got me thinking. Last semester, my practicum was under a teacher who also had students outline every pencil mark that was made in their work with sharpie. Some of these kids meticulously drew hundreds of brick not knowing their demise. These children's souls were crushed each time the teacher sent them back to outline for the next half hour, again... This project was a composition of a castle, I came into the lesson the last day of the project, so I missed the prior days of instruction. Recently we spoke of an article that started with "creativity is killed when..." I can't help but say, when you outline your work in sharpie... But maybe I am wrong, maybe I didn't learn that. I don't remember my teachers having me outline my work. I remember a graphic design project in 10th grade and once or twice in 7th or 8th grade. Maybe I am just over whelmed as a seasoned human. I'm not young anymore and it's hard when I question everything, and know nothing, or have the knowledge but second guess myself, to have opinions but to be afraid to speak up. Often I feel late to the game. I raised a family instead of getting my masters and planning my retirement. First and foremost I am an artist. Sharing my love of the visual arts is a close second to my family. I feel my passion for the visual arts and teaching it to our future leaders extremely valuable to me. I know I am an exceptional weaver, I know I am talented in a variety of visual arts, I am myself a leader. I feel I have been drawn to this calling for some reason, on the eve of my 44th birthday, I am trying to feel ok, enough, and to not sweat the sharpies.
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AuthorI have a passion for the visual arts and love sharing it with others. I have enjoyed teaching all ages and love to incorporate art history and traditional disciplines as well as innovative ideas. Art is vital to who I am as a creator and educator. Archives
April 2021
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