Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Teaching is my passion. My objective as a professor is to build a foundation that leads each student toward achieving his or her dreams and goals as an artist. I have a vibrant personality that invokes students to cultivate their curiosity, leading to creativity and a passion for art. I help students set personal goals, create a strategy for achievement, and encourage every student to become self-directed and independent. My strong belief in constantly furthering education promotes a student’s ambition to be accepted into a master’s program that best fits his or her learning style. I am committed to providing both a theoretical and practical education that is applicable to the modern world and will help students excel in any graduate education program.
Student interaction is important in the classroom. Through guidelines and rules, I take command of the classroom, and create a structured environment conducive to learning and creativity. Within this structured environment, I encourage students to open-up and express themselves comfortably through the powerful visual language of art. While I focus on maximizing each students unique potential, I also encourage them to work together in groups to achieve goals as a team. I encourage students to see the “big picture” in their artistic contributions and individual voice, take risks, and learn from failure.
My lecture style feeds off the students’ energy in the classroom, thus grabbing their attention and challenging them intellectually by relating past imagery and artists to current culture. I begin with a discussion of the history of drawing throughout the ages and into today’s digital graphics’ world. I show and explain how generations take the same principals yet apply them in their own contemporary way. I divide the course into genres with a path leading from one genre to the next, creating a natural beginning, middle and end for the course. The information is always presented simply enough so that students aren’t confused, and comprehensive enough to include the most pertinent and necessary information.
In an effort to fully engage each student, I utilize different types of media during my lectures. I use PowerPoint, videos, animation, visual props, and even guest speakers. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to present information to students. Yet, the importance of drawing is an underlying theme throughout the presentation. An artist of any sort must have the solid foundation necessary to look at an object and reflect it properly onto paper. As such, I encourage daily practice in the arts by requiring professional practice in sketchbooks because I believe hands-on experience is the best way to learn.
I do not see teaching as a means to an end, but rather as a calling. I am passionate to drive students to their fullest potential, and thus I reach my own summit as an educator and mentor.
