Teaching Philosophy
I believe in approaching the classroom as a collaborative space for the development of ideas. It is important to teach the student how to see their work in the context of art history and within the context of culture - to teach them how to examine, analyze and organize their visions, opinions and voices into communicable entities. I feel it is an integral part of an education in art to focus on the application of techniques to convey ideas, and from the onset, begin by steering the students to develop their own ideas.
As a teacher, it is my responsibility to teach both traditional and new techniques that give voice to creativity. New genre techniques go hand in hand with teaching more traditional media (such as drawing from observation and stone lithography). New and time-honored techniques are not exclusive; instead, they should feed and grow with one another. I believe that teaching through continued observation and documentation of the world around us is critical in giving students the tools they need to create art in this world of constantly changing styles where practitioners often utilize various media in expressing ideas and concerns. It is not only about giving them a repository of techniques and mastery of tools, it is about teaching them to truly see, see what lies beneath the surface. After all, creativity is a mixture of analytical and organizational skill as much as it is comprised of inventiveness, expression and unique ways of seeing. Additionally, I feel it is my role as an educator to teach students how their work fits within the continuum of art history. This helps the student understand who and what influences and informs their work.
I feel it is my primary responsibility as a teacher to impart the importance of discovery through the art making process and to teach my students how to see and understand the world around them. This methodology feeds off of knowledge - the knowledge of materials, tools and techniques, both traditional and new, and the understanding of the importance of contemporary and historical art influences vis-à-vis their own work. These two basic properties of the art education can and will help that student to find their own voice and direction.