What did you study in your undergrad program? What is your work about?
I graduated spring 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. My work primarily focuses on children’s book illustrations, and my illustrations often include fairies, gardening, forests, foraging, the seasons, and community. I am interested in creating diverse worlds that inspire connection, hope, nostalgia, and wonder.
When and why did you decide to pursue this MAT program?
Since coming to Maine College of Art & Design as a freshman, I have been interested in the MAT program. Some art teaching experiences in high school made me curious about exploring it further, and once I took the undergraduate art teaching course with Dr. Somerville, I knew that I was going to pursue the MAT program after I graduated. The class introduced me to different methods and concepts of teaching art, and it made me really excited to share my passions with others.
What are your career goals?
I hope to teach art and illustrate children’s books. I have a lot of passions that also include farming, traditional crafts, foraging, and art making. I’m not sure yet how all of my interests will combine into a “career,” or if I even want to be making money from all of them, but I hope that wherever my future career path takes me I still have lots of time for growing plants and cultivating my artistic practice.
Why do you want to become an art educator?
There were some very impactful art educators in my life as a young person, and I am inspired by those experiences. I know how important it is to create a safe space within a classroom where every student feels seen, respected, accommodated, and encouraged. The art classroom can be a sanctuary for creativity, exploration, play, and discovery, and I want to be part of making that happen. Being an art educator means that I will be constantly learning from my students and growing as an artist and human.
