Awakening Your Inner Artist: Why Art Teachers Should Make Art
I am often surprised when I meet art teachers who don’t make art.
When I say art, I mean art that is solely for the teacher. I’m not talking about classroom examples or other art-related tasks that go along with our jobs. Of course, I don’t think that all art teachers need to be creating and showing art in galleries, but I do think it’s important for art teachers to participate in the creative process at some level outside of working with students.
One reason I feel it’s so important to make your own art is to spend time in the struggle. Creating your own art puts you at the heart of the art making process. This means when your students have difficulty, you understand. You’re better equipped to help find solutions because you get it, you’ve been there.
But Who Has the Time?
I get it. Teaching art is a full-time job, and teaching art in and of itself is an art. Helping students to become artists and find their voice requires a lot of us, and takes more time than the school day can provide. However, I still push myself to find time to create art. I started small my first few years teaching by keeping a sketchbook, and working here and there on my oil paintings. No one typically saw my work, but I was creating. This time with art led me to make art a bigger part of my life, and that change has made all the difference for me and my students.
Don’t think you have to stick to the traditional mediums of drawing and painting! For example, I am a chainsaw sculptor and spend a significant amount of time on my work. Being able to share my art with my students, my co-workers, and my community has changed the way I teach art. It has also changed the way people view me as the art teacher, and in turn has changed how people view art class.
Creating an Art Making Habit
They say it takes quite a bit of time and determination to create a habit, so be gentle with yourself and start slowly.
Here are three ideas to get you started.
In addition, check out all of these other amazing presentations that will be available in the After Pass as Well.
What are your thoughts about art teachers making art?
Do you teach art and make art? How does it change the way you teach?
When I say art, I mean art that is solely for the teacher. I’m not talking about classroom examples or other art-related tasks that go along with our jobs. Of course, I don’t think that all art teachers need to be creating and showing art in galleries, but I do think it’s important for art teachers to participate in the creative process at some level outside of working with students.
One reason I feel it’s so important to make your own art is to spend time in the struggle. Creating your own art puts you at the heart of the art making process. This means when your students have difficulty, you understand. You’re better equipped to help find solutions because you get it, you’ve been there.
But Who Has the Time?
I get it. Teaching art is a full-time job, and teaching art in and of itself is an art. Helping students to become artists and find their voice requires a lot of us, and takes more time than the school day can provide. However, I still push myself to find time to create art. I started small my first few years teaching by keeping a sketchbook, and working here and there on my oil paintings. No one typically saw my work, but I was creating. This time with art led me to make art a bigger part of my life, and that change has made all the difference for me and my students.
Don’t think you have to stick to the traditional mediums of drawing and painting! For example, I am a chainsaw sculptor and spend a significant amount of time on my work. Being able to share my art with my students, my co-workers, and my community has changed the way I teach art. It has also changed the way people view me as the art teacher, and in turn has changed how people view art class.
Creating an Art Making Habit
They say it takes quite a bit of time and determination to create a habit, so be gentle with yourself and start slowly.
Here are three ideas to get you started.
- Give yourself a small, daily goal.
Try doing one sketch per day, or even one sketch per week. Find something that feels doable and comfortable for you. - Find an art making buddy.
Accountability can make all the difference in the world. See if any other art teachers in your district want to re-commit themselves to an art making practice and do it together! - Use social media to encourage follow through.
Sometimes telling others we are going to do something is enough to make us follow through. When people are waiting to see what you created, you are more likely to get it done. Challenge yourself to post one small artwork per week or per month.
Want even more inspiration?
If you’re looking for even more inspiration to start up your personal art practice again, join me for the Summer 2016 Art Ed Now National Online Conference for art teachers. I’ll be sharing more about how making your own art can enhance your teaching practice in the After Pass. These are bonus presentations that you can view for up to one full year after the live conference ends!In addition, check out all of these other amazing presentations that will be available in the After Pass as Well.
- Adapting the Marzano Learning Goals & Scales for the Art Room with Ruth Post
- Art, Dance, & Technology: Kinesthetic Learning in the Art Room with Abby Schukei
- “The Big Three”: Encouraging Elementary Students to Analyze Works of Art with John Post
What are your thoughts about art teachers making art?
Do you teach art and make art? How does it change the way you teach?
Molly Wiste
Molly is an art educator from northern MN. She
loves helping her students become independent artists by focusing on the
creative process and offering choice in the art room.
Ok, Molly hit the nail on the head. Don't ya think? I think your level of Summer Art as an Art Teacher depends on where you are in life. You see, I am entering my daughter's senior year and I am at a stage that I want my future empty nest looking vintage artsy with a flare of Daniel-Cochran inspiration. You will see what I am talking about as I have posted my first art projects of the summer.
I wanted to add a room on the house and start making a cool back porch with lots of our inherited eclectic furniture. I took an old heart pine table and renovated it back to life with some oil and new sea glass spray paint. I took our 2 black rocking chairs and distressed them into sour apple green. I just love the color. I wanted to stain the porch for a cool Bahamian feel.
This is where I am with making art. I am not finished as the house is about to be repainted and we need to put the fans up. It is a work in progress but you get the idea. This is my stage of art for me for now. The idea is that I am making time for art. I am feeding my soul.
In the past, we have painted ceramic bowls with kids and hauled bracelet making kits all over during the summer months. We still like to make friendship bracelets. When daughter reached her teens we had several kids over to Tie Dye. I made linen Tie Dye dish towels for gifts.
One summer I just painted on canvas and it felt so good. It seems each summer I have a goal of ideas that I want to create and the best part of going back to school in the fall is that I can share my creations. This process is ever so important to your teaching "mindset" it helps keep things in perspective and always looking to grow further in the classroom and in your own studio pieces.
About 5 summers ago, we created garden boxes. I painted our tomato stands funky wild colors. Added funky garden art. This was so much fun because then we were able to share our produce in the form of homemade salsa and homemade red pepper jelly. You see art comes in all forms of gifts and talents.
I thank you Molly for your post. It inspired me to share a little with the art teacher world about how I regroup in the summer to prepare for a fall full of fantastic art teacherin'
I wanted to add a room on the house and start making a cool back porch with lots of our inherited eclectic furniture. I took an old heart pine table and renovated it back to life with some oil and new sea glass spray paint. I took our 2 black rocking chairs and distressed them into sour apple green. I just love the color. I wanted to stain the porch for a cool Bahamian feel.
This is where I am with making art. I am not finished as the house is about to be repainted and we need to put the fans up. It is a work in progress but you get the idea. This is my stage of art for me for now. The idea is that I am making time for art. I am feeding my soul.
In the past, we have painted ceramic bowls with kids and hauled bracelet making kits all over during the summer months. We still like to make friendship bracelets. When daughter reached her teens we had several kids over to Tie Dye. I made linen Tie Dye dish towels for gifts.
One summer I just painted on canvas and it felt so good. It seems each summer I have a goal of ideas that I want to create and the best part of going back to school in the fall is that I can share my creations. This process is ever so important to your teaching "mindset" it helps keep things in perspective and always looking to grow further in the classroom and in your own studio pieces.
About 5 summers ago, we created garden boxes. I painted our tomato stands funky wild colors. Added funky garden art. This was so much fun because then we were able to share our produce in the form of homemade salsa and homemade red pepper jelly. You see art comes in all forms of gifts and talents.
I thank you Molly for your post. It inspired me to share a little with the art teacher world about how I regroup in the summer to prepare for a fall full of fantastic art teacherin'
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