LINDSAY THEIRL

I have been making art in various forms since childhood, but my primary mediums are ceramics, watercolor, and pen + ink. Recently I left a full-time job to pursue an art education teaching credential to eventually teach art to LAUSD high school and middle schoolers.

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Philosophy of Education

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As an artist and art educator, I want to inspire students to take an interest in exploring their creative abilities. I believe that all students are capable of finding joy in the act of creating, even if they do not consider themselves “artistic” in a traditional sense. My philosophy is that it is of utmost importance to find a balance between challenging the aspiring studio artists in the room, and helping students who are less interested in art understand the potentially lifelong benefits of having a creative outlet. I want to act as a facilitator on the students’ journey to becoming an artist who can think critically. I plan on doing this by giving students the requisite tools and asking them to question and analyze the art in front of them.

 

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities on the planet. With this in mind, I plan on being conscious of the privilege I bring into my classroom. I want all my students to feel as though they are part of a comfortable and inclusive environment. Part of that for me means not prioritizing only the Western masters, and taking a multicultural approach to art education. While I do believe it is critical to understand the history of European art, this is not the only art history that should be taught at a high school level.  Students should understand what are has come before them, but teaching from a multiculturalist perspective is also crucial. Knowing how diverse Los Angeles is, I want students to be able to find art that they can culturally connect with – art they feel represented by. 

 

I was lucky to grow up in a family where my parents saw my interest in drawing and painting and helped me develop the skills rather than pushing me in a different direction. This was a privilege I experienced, and I would like my classroom to be a positive and affirmative space for students that do not get that type of encouragement in the home.  Also, while I personally have a deep appreciation for art and my motivation to create comes naturally, I understand that this will not be the case for every student in my classroom. I think a great way to engage all learners is to frame art as not only a skill or a tradition, but also a way to process stress and deal with the anxieties of contemporary life. 

 

My plan is to adopt a dynamic teaching approach, and bring in a more progressive perspective on “why” we make art.  While the history is obviously essential, it is also essential to go beyond history and ascertain that contemporary art can be a catalyst for social progress. I hope that, by also persisting in my trade as a working artist and working on my own projects in the classroom, I can inspire students to put their all into their work and develop a lifelong love for creating.