Teaching Experience - (1993 to present)

Emerson Umbrella Concord, MA; Art Instructor: CARTOONING- Combine a child's creativity with fantasy & the results are delightful. "Reality" based lessons ground their ideas, along with basic writing principles & cartoons abound. WRITE & ILLUSTRATE YOUR OWN STORIES- Taught with accomplished writer/teacher Ruth Herman, students are encouraged to create their own stories as well as interpret it through their images. Emphasis on story line, coordinating images. BASIC DRAWING- We explore "how to draw" working with figures, faces and hands. We also tackle: Still-lives, shading, perspective, color theory. Each class begins with a "challenge" -I present a problem that students (no right or wrong answer) solve using their imagination and pencils.

R. J. Grey Junior High School Acton, MA; Art Instructor, A-Block Elective: CARTOONING- Students are introduced to basic drawing techniques: how to illustrate faces and bodies, composition, lettering, and use of color. They learn how to "cartoonize" their creations. Equipped with this knowledge, they work on actual stories, cartoon strips. Stressed is the necessity to be able to communicate a story effectively (each story must have a beginning, middle & end) as well as legibly.

Art-In-The-Kitchen Acton, MA; Home Schooling Art Instructor: Weekly art classes for students who wish to specialize, and expand their art skills on a one-on-one basis.

Paul P. Gates Elementary School Acton, MA; Art Instructor: AMAZING MORNINGS DRAWING CLASS- Students in this class learn the finer points of paper and pencil. A child with no prior experience will work on developing their drawing skills. AMAZING MORNINGS CALLIGRAPHY CLASS- Each student is introduced to a calligraphy pen, guidelines. While practicing to artfully create letters, students also learn more classic typefaces and then are free to create one of their own. LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE in ART for 5th & 6th GRADES- Picking up where the previous teacher left off, students explore color theory. "Profiles in History" included reviewing historical settings of portraits & then creating their own portrait. Advertising theories were discussed; students then created their own ads; architecture & perspective were explored as well as surrealism and realism.

BASIC DRAWING We explore "how to draw" working with proportioned figures and live models (including my dog!). Students are also introduced to Still-lives, Shading, Perspective & Color Theory. Equally important, I urge my students to "stretch" their imaginations. At the beginning of each class, I present a "challenge" that students solve using only their creativity and pencils. Without being limited to one"correct" answer, students learn a basic tenet in art: There is no "wrong" or "right" art!

CARTOONING Combine students' imaginations with fantasy and the results are delightful. "Reality" art lessons, along with basic writing principles form the basis for cartoons to come alive. Students are introduced to drawing techniques such as how to illustrate faces and bodies, dramatic compositions, lettering, & effective use of color. Equipped with this knowledge, students then create actual stories or cartoon strips. Stressed is the necessity to communicate a story effectively, as well as legibly. Of course, having fun is of prime importance, too!

STORYWRITING AND ILLUSTRATION Taught with accomplished author/teacher Ruth Herman, students are assisted in creating their own stories. We let our students decide if they want to write a story first or "draw" a story first, applying words after completing their images. Either way, we emphasize a coherent story line with coordinating images. Most important, we wish our students a continued love of words and art.