CULTIVATING CREATIVE CONFIDENCE IN KIDS
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MY ART EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY
Creating art is the sacred process of interpreting + generating visual reminders of God‘s creation. Art is an important part of bringing students into a deeper relationship with our Creator. My philosophy of art education begins with the fact that God created us in His own image as visual and sensory beings. God created us with the ability to respond and appreciate the beauty of the world, gracing us each with a unique imagination to create in our own right. In the art classroom, I strive to not only aide students in honing their artistic skills, but to also promote scriptural truths, the work and importance of the Holy Spirit in the art process, and the exciting calling that God has for the Christian artist.
MEET MRS. SMITH
Hi there, I'm Mrs. Smith and I'm so excited to teach visual art classes once again this school year at St. Jude School!
A bit about me -- this is my 7th year teaching elementary art here at St. Jude School. After spending 13 wonderful years in the marketing and graphic design world, I switched creative careers and began teaching in 2018. Having a degree in graphic design and studio art from the University of Mount Union, I previously taught toddlers and young children at a local community art group for a handful of years, drawing me in further to elementary art education. I earned my Master of Arts in Catholic Studies from Franciscan University, deepening my study of theology, the sacred process of art making and creating the beauty we want to see in our world.
You can expect lots of colorful projects, hands-on learning, making mistakes but trying again and FUN in the art room! We stay open to new ideas, explore different materials and experiment with various art-making processes. "What if..." is a favorite question of mine, encouraging curiosity and exploration in young students. I’m personally drawn to ceramics, watercolor painting, and the European Impressionist movement is forever my inspiration.
CURRENT ART PROJECTS
For current art projects going on in art studio, please log into your student's St. Jude Plus Portal's account.
QUARTER 1
8th Grade - We are working on turning our names into graffiti street art. We looked at the Christian ministry, Gospel Graffiti Crew, for street art inspiration.
5th Grade - We are working on origami radial sculptures with vibrant squares of paper on black backgrounds. We will be using 4 different folding techniques to create our projects.
1st Grade - We are working on "Getting to Know You" line sculptures. As the students share more about themselves, they will add colors lines to their project, bending and glueing the paper into different shapes.
Follow my Instagram here >> for more fun projects and happenings around the SJS art studio!
THE ARTISAN SOUL
A MOSAIC LIFE
May my life be a mosaic: a work of art made up of fragmented and broken pieces brought together by the Master Artisan, who creates in me a masterpiece most perfectly reflected when His light strikes through me. May they see the love of Jesus Christ shining through me.
A NEW HUMANITY
May the world I touch and the people I meet be more beautiful and better off for my being here.
May my life be a daily work of art, and may I always live as an artist at work, honoring the gifts God has entrusted to me.
