2009-06-10T10:39:00.001-07:00

My Art Teaching Philosophy...

Individual Self Expression - My teaching philosophy is centered in the belief that both the intellect and creativity of students should be nurtured by the following:

Creative Problem Solving - I enjoy helping young students, whether mainstream or special needs, to find creative ways to solve art making challenges. In that way, their sense of self-esteem, confidence, and independent thinking is strengthened which makes them more open to learning.

Student Based Learning - Pairing up or making student sub-groups helps them to share ideas and different approaches to their artwork with their peers.

Gallery Walk and Talk - To learn about art critique, everyone stands up to look at their artwork, then walks around to see others’ artwork and voices observations.

Classroom Inspiration - The art classroom must be colorful and provide a creative and safe atmosphere for all!

Cultures Around the World - What is meaningful for me is to use the art creating process as a vehicle for students to discover ways for expressing their individuality while learning about different mediums, tools, techniques, from ancient to modern cultures.

Past and Present Art - Students’ art appreciation can grow through learning about art created by famous artists and re-creating famous artists techniques and styles.

Art with Heart - One of my passions is to inspire and enrich students’ self-understanding through art awareness with lessons that relate to their home, school life, and community.

Cross Content- Art lessons integrating other subjects such as math, science, history, music, and literature help to open students' minds to different ways of learning.

Having Fun - An art class that is fun is where students like to be!

2008-11-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

Favorite Art Quotes

“Everything can and will be transformed in life and in art, if we speak the word LOVE without shame…in it lies true art.” Marc Chagall

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of tings, but their inward significance.” Aristotle

“What art offers is space—a certain breathing room for the spirit.” John Updike

“Color in a picture is like enthusiasm in life.” Vincent van Gogh

“Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what NOW you do not know.”
Rembrandt

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Pablo Picasso

“The essence of drawing is the line exploring space.” Andy Goldsworthy

“A line is a dot that went for a walk.” Paul Klee

“Great art is the outward expression of an inner life of the artist.” Edward Hopper

“I shut my eyes in order to see.” Paul Gauguin

“I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.”
Joan Miro

“I don’t believe in an art that is not born out of man’s need to open his heart.”
Edvard Munch

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Thomas Merton

Kimberly W. Cheifer, Art Teacher