About
BFA 2008; I am an artist-educator working in Freeport and Pownal, where I teach Pre-K through 5th grade. I completed the post baccalaureate program at Maine College of Art & Design in 2008 when my youngest son was born, who is now entering high school. I live in Falmouth with my wife and three children, our oldest of which is heading off to college. I enjoy introducing students to a wide array of tools and techniques, while my favorite medium is acrylic paint.
Gallery
Artist Statement
In order to examine the artist-educator relationship, I first needed to look at each of these identities separately. Beginning this course, my role as an educator felt tangible, however, my identity as an artist felt obscured. My art-making and reflection throughout this course has helped me to appreciate the extent to which my teaching career has helped me grow as an artist, while also highlighting the need to make personal creativity a greater priority. The balance in this relationship was off. As I regain that balance, my energy and self-esteem are growing.
My goal in these paintings was to utilize many of the tools that I teach to my students, and apply them to myself. I teach children skills and techniques. I will work on my art skills and try new things. I teach children to make mistakes and be resilient. I will get frustrated and remember to take a break and try again. I encourage students to find subjects that are meaningful to them. I will explore themes of home and family, as this is what lies heaviest on my mind. I am amazed how children can be spontaneous and playful when making art. I have always understood those who are serious and hard on themselves. I made four paintings in an effort to work faster, explore a variety of subjects, and be more spontaneous.
My first painting is about the sense of place. The cove near my house is filled with memories with my family, from the annual summer mud race to winter sunrises. I decided to walk down, take a picture, and make a painting. It took two sittings. It wasn't a beautiful sunrise, or dramatic scene, just an attempt to capture the spontaneity of a moment.
My second painting is a still-life. Around the 4th of July I arranged objects in my home that felt American and held those feelings of nostalgia I experience at this time of year. This work challenged my painting skills. I had to work through frustration and remember that mistakes are how we learn. It was a reminder to me that painting is really hard, exactly why I have to paint more.
My third painting is a view of my attic window from outside my house. We moved into this house when I finished my post-bacc. and started teaching. My home and family memories are aligned with my life as a teacher, and the rhythms of the passing school years, seasons, and holidays. The attic is the place where the relics of our lives are also part of this cycle.
My fourth painting is of my son Ben walking on the beach. I worked from a photograph and a sketch to help me with the anatomy of the figure. Sketching first was an effective exercise that allowed me to rely less on the photograph and more on my own understanding. While my tendency is towards realism, my brushwork feels looser and I am excited to be progressing in a new direction.
Each of these works challenged me in different ways. What I'm most encouraged about is the amount of work I was able to do, and the optimism I feel moving forward. Although I chose a theme, each painting represents something different to me. I have many ideas for paintings, and with a new school year approaching, a new opportunity to embrace the artist-teacher relationship.