About Me
I’m a lifelong Tulsan and proud alum of Booker T. Washington HS who’s taught art and art history at TSAS since 2006. Before then, I worked at the Philbrook Museum of Art in the education and curatorial departments, and taught in multiple other local arts organizations as well. I speak 4 languages and was part of the inaugural Spanish Immersion class that began the dual language programs in Tulsa in 1981. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe that public education is the most important investment we can make in our kids and I hope to use my public education foundations to give back to my community, because they invested in me. I’m married and have an 8 year old son who is my favorite person and a 17 lb cat who sleeps on me. My favorite thing to do is reading, more reading, buying books and talking about books, but also all pop culture and history. I unabashedly love good animated shows with excellent storytelling.
Education
- Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa
- Certificate in Museum Studies
- Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa
- Certificate in Italian Language Studies from Tulsa Community College
Why I Teach
I teach because I like kids– they all have an amazing energy and perspective on the world that is invaluable and constantly reminds me that we need to keep a little piece of that alive in ourselves as adults. I teach because I want students to be able to work with their hands in a way that doesn’t involve a keyboard or phone. I do it because art is an ancient and timeless subject, yet is also one of the most accessible languages that connects us universally. I teach because I want my students to have practical real-world skills, like creative problem-solving and perseverance. But I also teach art because I firmly believe that students need to exercise all parts of their brain in order to grow into fully actualized adults. Through art, a student can discover something about themselves or the world that changes them forever, and for the better, and it’s my privilege to be there when it happens. It’s just an added bonus that we get to make messes and that’s awesome.
Currently Available Courses
Ceramics
This course is a basic ceramics class for both beginners and students with prior clay experience. We will explore all of the basic clay construction methods such as pinch pots, coil building, additive and subtractive, slab building (tiles and boxes) and basic wheel throwing and more. Students will learn a variety of clay construction skills and glazing techniques to create ceramic works of their own original design. Drawing skills are important in this course to conceptualize and plan pieces before construction. Classwork consists of clay projects and weekly sketchbook assignments.
Hands-On Art History
For millennia, humans have created all manner of artwork using a wide variety of materials and techniques to achieve their artistic goals– have you ever wondered what it would be like to create art the way they did? What’s it like to paint a fresco or weave a basket? How do you make a pot?
In this class, you’ll explore a wide variety of media projects based in an art historical context including painting, sculpting, clay, ink, fibers, prints, paper and more. This includes studying a variety of styles and techniques from other cultures and multiple time periods and applying that knowledge to a physical project. There will be research, sketchbook and studio work to give yourself a greater understanding of how over time artists and cultures have worked with their hands to shape their vision of their world.
Printmaking I
This class will be an introduction to the art of printmaking, which is the oldest form of graphic design and a way to make multiples— think of how rubber stamps work! Printmaking has been around for over a thousand years, originating in the East and migrating to the West as cultures traded artistic techniques as well as goods. In addition to basic printmaking skills such as ink use, block cutting, and print design, students will learn how to make Gelli prints (monotypes like painting), collographs (collage texture prints), relief prints (linoleum and rubber carvings) and other methods. Correct use of specialized printing equipment, tools, and supplies will also be taught. You will work on printmaking projects and sketchbook work daily to develop your own skills and creative style.
Printmaking II
This class will be a continuation of the techniques learned in Printmaking I, and will further your skills in the art of printmaking. Students will learn how to create drypoint intaglios on plastic, multiple color linocuts and silkscreens they can print on clothing. You will work on printmaking projects and sketchbook work daily to develop your own skills and creative style.
The Arts and Crafts Movement
The Arts and Crafts movement was a late 19th century design philosophy that championed handcrafted, high-quality items over mass-produced industrialization and valued the craftsmanship and beauty of handmade objects over machine-made ones, promoting a return to traditional techniques and a connection between the artist and the materials they used.
As well as learning about the history and legacy of the Arts and Crafts Movement, in this class you will explore different mediums related to this philosophy including dye/fiber exploration, polymer clay miniatures, ceramic items, bookmaking and more. A focus on handcrafted items, construction, functionality and relation of artist to materials will aid you in your creative problem-solving and developing your own unique design style.