Personal Art Education History

Sasha Newman
January 16, 2015
Looking back at my personal history I have discovered that my path,
while not always direct, has always been steered by a love of art. My mother
was my first art teacher. She taught me to draw with colored pencils,
including shading and blending techniques. She took me to all of the
Smithsonian museums, and let me sit for hours beneath the Calder mobile at
the Hirshhorn Gallery. From those early moments I was hooked and Mrs.
Pavlin at Beverly Farms Elementary helped my love of art grow. Her art
classroom was enormous, with counters covered in paint cups and supplies.
The walls were plastered with colorful artist posters and bookshelves topped
with old student artwork. She had an open door policy, which I took
advantage of, spending hours after school or during recess working on
projects. Throughout my early years, Mrs. Pavlin gave me a safe
environment to use art to express myself.
After a nurturing and warm elementary school experience, my path
became much rockier. Ms. Kozak, my middle school art teacher, was the
worst teacher I ever had. Her classroom was strict and she seemed to resent
teaching children. I have horrible memories of being told I would never have
enough talent to become an artist and that I shouldnt bother trying. In
contrast to this negativity I found a positive outlet in theater with Ms. Bilik.
She was compassionate and challenged me to think outside the box. Pam
Bilik was my strongest mentor, both in the arts and emotionally. She became
a driving force in keeping me connected to the arts, through theatre, even
when my struggles with depression ripped me away from school for years.
My battles with severe depression as a teenager shaped who I am as
an educator and artist today. My time spent in both inpatient and outpatient
facilities helped me to understand the value of art as a healing tool, using
therapy sessions to draw, paint, and sculpt. I filled my desk with sculpted
trees and covered my walls in painted masks. Nowadays, when I interact

with my teenage students, I find that I am able to empathize with their

struggles and provide encouragement to make the arts an active part of their
lives.
When I attended college at Boston University, I again connected most
to my art teachers. Diane Fargo had the most influence on me as an artist.
She would never accept mediocre work, nor would she hide her opinions. As
Diane puffed away on her cigarettes, she would push her students beyond
their own expectations. This helped me to improve my painting techniques
and to strive for perfection in every piece. Jim Noones teaching style was a
revelation for me. In my small scene design class we enjoyed round table
discussions and were always treated as equals. My respect for Jims
knowledge and advice kept me engaged in the course while his
encouragement helped me to take risks, problem-solve, and experiment with
each design project. Together, Diane and Jim taught me that good work takes
time and dedication.
Jason Jordie Edwards had a hands-off approach to teaching. In my
apprenticeship at the Woolly Mammoth Theater, Jordie guided me in
developing my skills to experiment with various painting techniques,
allowing me to fail and try again as many times as necessary. I learned that
failure is a necessary in art, that paint is not permanent, and that any artist
can become a teacher. From Ms. Pavlins open and nurturing classroom, to
Jordies laid-back attitude, I always found a mentor, guide, and friend in
every art teacher.
My other great influences have come from travel, my various jobs, and
most recently graduate school. Traveling all over the world from a young age
opened my eyes to the vast and enduring qualities of art. Exploring the
winding canals of Venice, the Andes in Argentina, the busy streets of Buenos
Aires, and even the Lake District in England were some of the greatest and
most memorable moments in my life. My career path has taken me from
painting and building in DC Theater to finally finding a classroom home at
The Madeira School. Graduate school has had the most eye opening effects

on my art education journey. UF has already taught me so much about art

education but also about myself as an artist. I have a newfound interest in
creating personal pieces of artwork, and the lesson plans I have brought to
my school have reinvigorated my fellow art teachers.