Student Work
Teaching Philosophy
As an educator in the arts I believe in a “4H” approach to teaching: Head – Hand – Heart: Humanity; simply translated the “4H” approach to teaching concerns itself with technical proficiency, strong craftsmanship, a thoughtful concept, and the artist’s recognition of themselves within the larger general community. In order for an artist to convey their intended message or concept it is imperative that they possess full command of all processes, machines and materials used in their practice. Ideas are powerful, but only if your audience is not first distracted by poor craftsmanship or obvious technical error. On the flip-side, a demonstration of technical proficiency or strong craftsmanship is just that if not wed with concept. Artists have the opportunity to say something, however literal or abstract, and therefore, should hone their abilities to do so.
I believe the artistic discipline is one which calls for an advanced level of confidence and bravery. It is a discipline which commands commitment, a high level of maturity and sense of responsibility. Artists must be risk-takers, decision-makers, and problem-solvers. To be an artist is the paradigm of balance, asking for a harmony between the freedom of those wild things inside of us and the maintenance of an everyday life. To be an artist one must be persistent, ambitious, and resilient, it is not a feat that should be taken lightly.
In the classroom, I strive to instill a sense of community and purpose in my students; in art we are not alone. Artists rely on community, not only one of like-minded individuals for support and competition, but also those in the community at large; to act as audience, to be considered as muse or as receptacle. The artist must not only be self-aware, but aware of others.
As an educator it is my job to support and to excite, to encourage and to push, to challenge the student to reach their full potential and beyond. College is a time for the student to come into their own as a confident, purposeful individual, and a contributing member of the community; whether it is through the study of art, or science, literature, or something else completely, every person deserves this opportunity.
As an educator in the arts I believe in a “4H” approach to teaching: Head – Hand – Heart: Humanity; simply translated the “4H” approach to teaching concerns itself with technical proficiency, strong craftsmanship, a thoughtful concept, and the artist’s recognition of themselves within the larger general community. In order for an artist to convey their intended message or concept it is imperative that they possess full command of all processes, machines and materials used in their practice. Ideas are powerful, but only if your audience is not first distracted by poor craftsmanship or obvious technical error. On the flip-side, a demonstration of technical proficiency or strong craftsmanship is just that if not wed with concept. Artists have the opportunity to say something, however literal or abstract, and therefore, should hone their abilities to do so.
I believe the artistic discipline is one which calls for an advanced level of confidence and bravery. It is a discipline which commands commitment, a high level of maturity and sense of responsibility. Artists must be risk-takers, decision-makers, and problem-solvers. To be an artist is the paradigm of balance, asking for a harmony between the freedom of those wild things inside of us and the maintenance of an everyday life. To be an artist one must be persistent, ambitious, and resilient, it is not a feat that should be taken lightly.
In the classroom, I strive to instill a sense of community and purpose in my students; in art we are not alone. Artists rely on community, not only one of like-minded individuals for support and competition, but also those in the community at large; to act as audience, to be considered as muse or as receptacle. The artist must not only be self-aware, but aware of others.
As an educator it is my job to support and to excite, to encourage and to push, to challenge the student to reach their full potential and beyond. College is a time for the student to come into their own as a confident, purposeful individual, and a contributing member of the community; whether it is through the study of art, or science, literature, or something else completely, every person deserves this opportunity.
