Carmel Studios

Introduction: The reasons that adults want to begin or continue learning about painting, drawing, sculpture or any creative art media or format, is usually for a purpose. This purpose can be for a wide variety of reasons, but usually it's for personal growth. My job as a teacher is to make sure that I can offer the skills and tools the student needs to fulfill their pursuit of creativity. This means that I am entirely mindful of what the student want to do, and will work with the student to satisfy those personal and creative desires. I can also provide guidance for directing a student to use their skills and proficiency to completing creative projects. Inspiration comes in many forms, and it's up to the teacher to be mindful of the student and help them the way they want to be helped. Technical proficiency with media, understanding the use of the principles and elements of design, and reflection about the history of content and style in the visual arts form a solid foundation for making art. All of this information makes little sense unless we're enjoying the creative process. Another part of my job is to encourage both good work and fun. Art is one of the most fulfilling, creative and personal activities we can do. It's about self-expression -- thoughts and emotions become visible in color, forms and symbols. We share a part of ourselves with others who view it. Art is a way of affirming the beauty in the world, a way to put us in touch with our rich visual language and heritage. And art is FUN! A teacher leads a student by directing inquiry with relevant examples and pointing out other possible solutions to problems. In a creative process, the best answers for the student are the ones that come from the student. What is most different about art practice sessions with me is that I concentrate on ideas and process and less upon genre and style, with the focus on the student. I encourage students to explore and experiment as much as possible while learning the vocabulary of visual art before settling on a way of working media. Style and content are things that naturally evolve over time. Every artist steals and copies. It is up to every artist to make their direct references public and alter the work by making it personal. I can help an artist with creative strategies for making art personal and original. Creative growth is the most important part of any course of study. Students are drawn to my classes and stay because they know I speak truly, honestly and positively. My classes are for people who want to grow in their creative practice. I teach different levels of watermedia and graphic classes. Beginning classes focus on fundamentals, technical aspects of media, and designated and personal projects with continual instructor demonstrations and discussion. Intermediate classes focus on developing and evolving a personal visual language into a style or genre. Demonstrations and conversations emphasize both traditional and innovative approaches to process and media. The master class uses projects that challenge and provoke critical thinking and is more informal than the other classes. One of the aspects of teaching I love the most is witnessing when visual media and the author come together and really expresses something vital and wonderful.