2nd part of Blog 2

I realize I have forgotten the most important aspect of my second post. How do I think my practices as an artist will help in the classroom? Like any talent or intelligence, a creative mind maintains and grows with constant practice. I feel a strong practice in what I love to do will introduce an artistic lifestyle and become a viable activity for students to undertake. Artists are able to pull from the tribulations of society a set of emotions that engage an audience. They are able to see the larger picture and introduce a dialogue that connects thoughts with humanity. By introducing my art into the classroom, I hope to give assistance to students through example. If they are able to see how an artist gathers ideas and the processes in which they work, the students will have a greater foundation of creative insight to begin their own works of art. I plan to show my mishaps and troubles in order for them to realize artists struggle with ideas as well. Who knows, their thoughts may be of benefit. Like many of us, I have had dreams of a large studio space in an old carriage house that sits fifteen yards from my back porch swing. Realistically, that won't happen for quite a while, so for me to continue my art, I need to transform a room in my house for doing the art and use my classroom as the birthplace for ideas.

I feel that in order to teach art well, you must have practice with the medium. If a teacher does not have substantial knowledge of the medium or the artmaking process, students will learn incorrectly. That is one of my greatest fears, and because I don't want my students to be given flimsy advice, I intend to continue making art from different mediums. A teacher is a vessel of knowledge that increase in volume. In order to teach effectively, our knowledge of artmaking and our own practices must grow and be seen by every student.