Hello from Madison, Wisconsin!  I teach K-5 art at a small, private school dedicated to academically gifted and talented students.  This is my 19th year of teaching at this school and my 23rd year of teaching overall.  Our school is distinctive in that students begin traveling between subjects with specialized teachers starting in first grade.  While my students excel in math, science, and language arts, I’m fortunate that the arts are highly valued here. My classes meet twice a week for 40 minutes each, allowing us ample time for creative exploration. I’m passionate about integrating art history and contemporary artists into my curriculum, and my favorite media to teach are collage and watercolor painting. 

I also oversee the yearbook with a fun group of middle school students, and I find it rewarding to design layouts and witness the beautiful results of a yearlong endeavor. In my personal art practice, I enjoy meditative processes like watercolor doodling and art journaling.  I love collecting ephemera and vintage materials to use in my art journal collages.  I stay very busy balancing my teaching career and my two kids, who are in 5th and 9th grade. 

In my spare time, I enjoy connecting with fellow art teachers to exchange ideas and collaborate. For the past 14 years, I’ve been running a blog dedicated to teaching art, which you can explore at www.ArtisBasic.com. Feel free to check it out!