Those Who Can't...don't tell.

So I recently made a post about an art experience in school that had a huge impact on me and so I thought that I should mention a course that had an equally huge impact on my love of art. It kind of relates to my last post :) For the second half of grade 10 I went to school in Saskatchewan and because I had already taken Art 10 I took Art 11 in my new school. This course was incredible!! I learned two things in this course and fell in love with doing art. I think that the teacher in my previous class had artistic ability (the learn to draw on the right side of the brain teacher) but she never showed it to us. This teacher was an artist and he was not afraid to let us know. In this class I spent half of the year doing watercolour painting and then the other half doing pottery. I learned this from a man named Ken Guenter who is a watercolour painter and a potter (go figure!).

I think that you can learn math from someone who hates math but it will be harder and you might not learn it as well. The same goes for any subject. I think that anyone can teach art but I think we are much more likely for students to get excited about art if you love it...and actually do it! So this is my theory, if you hate art, try to do some and see if you can grow some fondness (Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain?) If that is something you REALLY don't want to do, at least do the art project before you have your students do it (maybe you  will find it is fun and decide you still hate art but love doing this project). And keep in mind, this is all my theory, don't put to much credit in it. If you can't do any of these things: FAKE IT "TIL YOU MAKE IT. That's it. I think that is actually my theory with all subjects. If you can't stand a subject, don't let your students know. Fake it and maybe one day you will love it, and at the very least, you will not spread your hatred to your students.

For now, I will say that Ken Guenter was one of the greatest teachers that I've ever had. He loved what he taught, he did it well, he taught skills, he made us work for our finished products, he often made us start from scratch and do paintings 10 different times...these rough drafts were actually a requirement for some assignments. He taught me that art skills are just that, skills. They can be built up and refined by anyone. I am taking those theories with me to all areas of education.