When I was in 4th grade, my teacher, Mrs. Sparks, gave the class chalk pastels and paper and some free time to create. I drew a picture of an Easter basket and she thought it was fabulous. She made a big deal about it and hung it on the board. I thought to myself, “now there is something I can do,” and so I have! That one action from a teacher set the course of my life. Of course, there were many people along the way who supported me, taught me, inspired me, but she lit a “spark” in my soul with her encouragement.
I ran across that drawing today as I was cleaning out some things. It isn’t magnificent. I have had many students significantly more talented than I was at that age. But she saw something in my drawing and in my passion that she felt worthwhile to encourage. She didn’t know that art would become my life’s work. She couldn’t have guessed that I would spend many years encouraging future students. There was no hint that I would paint on many walls and and illustrate books and create for both profession and pleasure. She didn’t know. But she did it anyway – and I am so glad she did!
Teaching art to children gives me the chance to do the same. And maybe I have not taught the next Michaelangelo, but I have taught many children who have gone on to study art and to become artists. Hopefully I have taught many more who have grown up to appreciate art. Perhaps, I have taught a few who, had I not encouraged, would never have known that was what they were supposed to do.
This week I taught a group of children how to draw a pig. We focused on overlapping and other drawing skills. Their sketches were beautiful! When I gave them paper to draw the final product, a few of their pigs suddenly became biker pigs and pirate pigs and pigs with disco balls and earrings! It wasn’t what I was expecting, but the joy and passion those kids had in creating their art was far more important than having a museum quality piece of art in the end.
Why do I love teaching art to children? I love it because I get to teach, encourage, and then step back and watch the purest form of expression one will ever see!