My teaching philosophy is very simple; students must learn how to produce intelligently and efficiently and they must also learn to present their work competently and articulately. I design each course with clear goals in mind and construct the syllabus so as to address those goals. I start with a review of the elements and principles of design and the design process so that the class can begin working with a suitable vocabulary and an established method of working. Once the course work begins, students are required to work rigorously both in and out of the classroom and are expected to present their work or critique the work of others at each deadline. I try to create an intense studio environment so that students are motivated to work and excel in their projects. Throughout the course of the semester I try to supplement each project, as much as possible, with slides, examples of work, videos, readings and field trips.

I have established this method of teaching because I teach so many different types of classes. This helps me to create a consistency in my approach so that my students and I can find a rhythm in the way that we work. Even though the medium and the focus may change, the vocabulary, the expectations and the work ethic remain constant. What I attempt to do in my classes is to create good work habits so that the work eventually becomes easier and easier and, as the student begins to develop his or her craft level, their ideas and their creativity can start to surface. I’m a stingy grader and each student knows that they must earn their grade from me but I also work extensively with each student on an individual basis. This allows me to motivate each student according to their own needs, capabilities and talents and also makes the course as challenging for the more developed students as well as the beginners. Indeed, I expect all of my students to make significant progress during the semester and I work very hard to ensure that everyone excels no matter what their talent level.

With each course, my first priority is to guide and encourage my students through the technical aspects of the medium they are working in to the point where they can begin to produce images, designs or forms which are expressive of their personalities, ideas and environment. I encourage students to experiment and explore the possibilities of each medium so that they can understand the boundaries and limitations of their work. I also stress the importance of good resources and urge students to utilize as many resources as possible during the semester. Secondly I teach students to create images, designs or forms which are of high quality and can be included in their portfolios. I am constantly emphasizing the importance of a good portfolio in the creative arts and conduct a portfolio seminar every semester. Lastly, I try to prepare my students for what lies ahead in terms of their education and their career. With this in mind, I work to develop each students problem-solving skills and their presentation abilities. It is extremely important to me to help students to build confidence and clarity in their work so that they may have the tools neccessary to excel in their majors and their careers.

I teach art as a complete experience because I feel strongly about the power of visual language. I approach each class with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy and always try to keep my classes interesting and informative. In the end, my students learn that medium and technique are the basic tools of visual expression and visual communication. I take pride in my ability to motivate and encourage students, especially the beginners, and I stress the importance of being creative, not just with their art work but within every aspect of their lives. My goal for each student is that they leave my class having had a positive creative experience, taking with them work which is both technically proficient, expressively meaningful and professionally presentable.