Hello and welcome to all! I’m honored to be the art teacher here at Trinity. This school truly values every child as a whole – mind, body, and spirit. As a result the arts are definitely alive and well here! My goal is to help my students see how art is a part of all aspects of life. I want them to grow in confidence that they can create beautiful artwork, as long as they are open to learning and trying their best. I believe it’s important for students to discover and create art in a variety of genres and media, so they can see which paths best suit their interests and talents. As such, we draw (with pencils, charcoal, crayons and markers), paint (with tempera, acrylic and watercolors), use oil and chalk pastels, mold with clay, print with ink, and weave with yarn and paper. I also like to use unconventional materials to try new projects. In order to create beautiful art, though, we have to have an understanding of the Elements of Art (line, shape, texture, form, space, color and value), the Principles of Design (balance, scale, contrast, pattern, movement and rhythm, emphasis, and unity), and some basic techniques (perspective, color theory, etc). We discuss these topics in class throughout the year, and learn how they are combined both in the art that we observe together and in the art that we create. God, who is Beauty, allows us to participate with Him in Creation when we make art. Pope Saint John Paul II said, “None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands.” Thank you for entrusting your children to our care and for allowing me the great privilege of teaching them in art class!
