My Philosophy of Art Education 

      Art is a visual language based on an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is a powerful way of communicating with oneself and with society. Artists are skilled craftsmen, but also innovators of new discoveries. Art facilitates the integration of knowledge and experience. Through making art, students share their individuality and discover the value of self-expression. My personal connection to this field is a natural will to express my ideas using visual form. Creating has made me a more insightful, caring and interesting person. I learn and enjoy the world more through the arts.

     Sensory knowledge learned in art extends students’ abilities everywhere, thus an important part of the school curriculum. Learning higher order thinking develops creative reasoning when living life’s challenges. Creativity is a significant life skill that helps students further understand themselves and their unique ways of contributing to society.

     My goals are to raise students’ self confidence, develop their ability to engage in deep thinking through creative problem solving, and to learn the visual communication skills they need to express themselves adequately. Through this successes are realized and people validate their lives by their achievements.

     I believe in teaching art production, history, criticism and aesthetics using the aims of Discipline Based Art Education. I am also a proponent of interdisciplinary and multicultural lessons in order to connect art with the wider world of learning.

    I feel great satisfaction in helping students realize their potential through art, and finding appreciation for their own individuality and for that of their fellow students. I am committed to building students and their futures.

Art by Leslie Reed
©2005