Career

My career goal has been to be an art educator, and my artwork bridges visual art with art education, appealing to a diverse age group. I am most passionate about my artwork because of its collaborative and accessible nature. It is approachable, non-intimidating, it invites the viewer to become a part of the art. My art isn’t meant to be viewed, but it is meant to be interacted with- giving the viewer the opportunity to make decisions about how they choose to arrange the colors. Whether the viewer’s choice is at random, or made using color theory, this art not only includes the viewer, but challenges them to think about how color, shape, and space interact with one another; to configure these pieces in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to them.

This past school year I was honored to step into an unfilled position as a middle school art teacher. When I first walked into the classroom, I immediately started pondering the message I wanted my students to see when they walked in. I quickly landed on the phrase “art is for everyone.” When students walk in there are letters hung below string lights that say, “ART IS FOR EVERYONE “because I wanted to cultivate a welcoming and uplifting environment. It has become my mantra for art education because I truly believe everything that it stands for. Art can often feel like a club that not everyone is allowed to be a part of, and I wanted to actively combat that way of thinking. The countless times I have heard children and adults say “I’m not good at art” is disheartening; I know at some point I even declared that for myself.

It is a message that has somehow been ingrained in society that if you cannot draw or paint realistically that you are no good at art; that art is unforgiving in its nature, and that creativity can only have merit in the art world if you possess specific skills. I wanted to deconstruct this way of thinking because I believe that the most important part of art is the creativity behind it; by expanding creativity, we expand possibilities.

The artwork for my senior thesis rooted in creativity with the result of possibilities perfectly encompasses my ideals and beliefs in art. It is meant to be art for everyone regardless of any factors that might limit viewership in other forms of fine art. This art eliminates this pretentious mindset about who is worthy of art. I am very proud of this artwork because of its inclusive nature, but I am also proud of this artwork on a personal level. While loosely inspired by artists like Kandinsky and children’s toys, it is unique and original in its conception. Developing art that perfectly aligns with my creative abilities and my ideals about art education can be seen throughout all of my work.