Art is a universal tool that has the power to transform an individual and their surroundings.
Magic and Mastery:
Fostering the Creative Mind My vision as an art educator is to create an atmosphere where appreciation of spontaneity and enchantment by the magic of art is preserved. As students reach middle school, they become more aware of the technicalities of art. Essentially, this is the point where the magic of art is lost and a desire for mastery takes hold. As a result, students lose sight of the true beauty of art-of the emotional and creative expressiveness that is so important in furthering artistic knowledge. Instead, students become focused on making their artwork look "real." When they are unable to accomplish this task, it can lead to dissatisfaction and a complete loss of interest in the subject. It is my hope that by exposing students to a variety of different artists, materials and projects, they will come to appreciate and enjoy many different forms of art. I want them to understand that not all "good" art looks real. I want them to be aware that art making is more about the creative process than the skill that is involved. I want them to be able to utilize art as a tool: a tool for expressing thoughts and emotions, a tool for creating change, solving problems, conveying a message and creating meaning in their lives. I feel that a good curriculum will not only teach skills and content specific to art, but will also encourage students to use these skills to express themselves. By exploring these aspects, students can learn about themselves as well as others. If students are creating projects that encompass these aspects, they will come to understand that the instinct to make art is in all of us and essentially everyone has an inner artist inside of them. On the other hand, I will never reject a student's desire for mastery either. Instead, I hope to incorporate both. I hope to find a balance between reason and emotion. Through my teachings, I hope to achieve equality between the mechanics of instructional objectives and the need for emotional outcomes. I will try to liberate students from disappointments of idealistic realism by encouraging them to make their artwork their own- bring personality to their piece. Instead of student's merely replicating objects in the classroom to practice drawing skills, I will challenge my students to move beyond reality. I will place great emphasis on the student's ability to create a likeness of the visual world rather than a reality of it. I will push them to not only observe their environment but interpret it through their own emotions and expressive techniques, not just the ones they are taught. After all, what every person sees is different and no one piece is ever going to look the same. These unique and authentic interpretations bring personal meaning to each piece of art and this is what makes art so special. Not only do I hope to focus on the content specific to art, but I feel that bringing in elements from a variety of subject areas is another way to create meaning in a student's work. I hope to utilize my own background in English by creating projects that include text or a writing component. For every project, I want my students to understand why what they are creating is important and meaningful. Cultivating interconnectivity between all disciplines will help students understand that the information and skills they learn in one subject, extend to other areas as well. In tum, they are learning to make important connections and are one step closer towards creating meaning in their own work. Above all else, art has the power to transform an individual and their surroundings. Through my own creativity and teachings, I must help my students recognize this. I hope to encourage the artistic process and foster creativity in my student's lives. I want my students to be excited to come to art class. With all of the pressures and stress in life, I want the art room to be a place free of judgment; a place where students feel inspired to create. They should feel comfortable taking chances in their work and not be afraid of making mistakes. In the end, I want their inner artistic child to be reinvented and for them to explore and experiment in their projects. By doing so, I hope to merge mastery with magic and preserve the creative minds of the future. ~ Amanda Davis |