Artist Statement
The creation of art has taught me to never doubt my feelings as something that is non existent. Dry mediums have helped me understand how to appreciate the moment, the beauty of process & patience. I began creating art as a child because it was the best way to express myself as I was non verbal by choice although I had two languages to choose from I still chose to speak with my hands. I became obsessed with the process in elementary school and fell in love with the subject in high school. I have since spent my entire art career attempting to perfect my skill. As someone that is intuitive, the process of art making is more important to me than the final piece itself. I process emotions in a logical way, so when I create a piece every mark is intentional even if it isn’t sketched out I have already seen it in my mind. I know a piece is complete when it is personally satisfying to look at and I no longer feel connected to the subject. In a lot of ways I have self soothed myself through art from an early age and used my skill to cope with the ebbs and flows of my life. As much as I battle with perfectionism in my mind, my art is a reflection of my soul. Deep feelings processed through various mediums, I accept my perfectionism is only an illusion.
I believe structure and respect of our past is necessary in a fine arts class. When fundamentals are created for any particular subject it is because they are necessary for us to thrive in our environment. Teaching the fundamentals in drawing promotes patience within an individual. Each student must learn that they are in control of the tools in their hands when they create. It is important for me as an educator for my students to be intentional when they make their mark on anything. It is not surprising for someone like me to gravitate towards this specific teaching philosophy. In my experience, I have come to realize that many young adults want to learn how to draw lifelike subjects. Structure, a solid foundation, and knowledge of fine art is necessary even if an artist wants to bend the rules. There would not be great art movements without artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Banksy (the list goes on) if they had not studied the great masters of European art and made it their own. The same can be said for many non European artists that managed to perfect their skill with the fundamental teachings of art. The great Mexican muralists of the early 19th century were very talented illustrators and painters who had a traditional fine arts background. The way they developed their skills and the impact they had on not only their country but the world is a representation of the importance of essentialism in art making. Through this teaching philosophy, students should understand what their capabilities can be when creating their own art pieces. Not only is it important for students to have an understanding of the mediums they use but to be intentional in their art process. I am a huge believer in thinking deeply before speaking, and art is more than pretty colors, shapes and shades, it is a language. Students must learn the importance of the fundamentals in order for their thoughts and feelings to be understood clearly. In my lessons I hope to teach my students that the beautiful pictures they have in mind can be created with discipline and practice while still feeling confident in themselves. Life drawing assignments are an example of exercising patience and strictly following the fundamental teachings of drawing. Incorporating modern objects to the liking of each student puts a fun spin on this timeless lesson. I want my students to find their creative voice in my art class by exploring and learning about each medium they are introduced to. Because when you are in control of the tools, you can convey your message to a larger audience as loudly or as quietly as you choose. I hope that my students can realize that some of the greatest artists of our time were people who developed their own unique language with practice, patience, deep feelings and thoughts. I would like for my students to also understand that these great artists that broke rules and crossed boundaries were once exactly like them; students.