artiselementary

It’s testing season here so I feel it should also be clay time! The most primal, therapeutic and most sensory experience we can have is connecting with the earth through clay- the mud and dirt truly is amazing and calming. What a gift.

Heyyyyyy! Vacation Alexandra here, trying to soak up family time, doodling, resting and decluttering. My daughter took this and I thought I’d use to reintroduce myself.

I’ve been teaching elementary art for 22 years and it feels like a lifetime and a blink. I am still learning and I also feel confident in my craft. I love creating a safe space for children to take risks and express themselves. It is literally magic, even on the tough days, it feeds my soul.

I believe creativity is the path to peace, healing, joy and connection.

About 7 months ago I posted a cryptic post about being ill- I had bacterial meningitis and I finally feel like me again- took all summer of bed rest, and then another 5 months to move slowly to get back. I went back to work to reconnect and that piece soothed my soul but the exhaustion remained for some time.

Each day is about gratitude ever since and I also try told some slowness and being present in my classroom- not easy in our hurry culture, even for little kids who feel this- they need a respite from the world. I hope that’s my classroom ❤️🎨💕

Classic lesson that just keeps serving ❤️🌹🌸🌻🪻

January and February are just a beast to get through here in New England, annnnd I find it to be the best time to make our best work. Art teachers, do you agree?
Something about the season place in the year- we have our routines, skills are built, now we create! That’s my feeling and why I save my more challenging lessons for this time.

I found a dictionary from 1950, headed to the trash…and that’s when the magic begun! We studied and his use of paper and then made our own still life drawings, landscapes and more! What can you save from the trash can and upcycle?

Back to my former high school to teach 4 workshops today- can I just say I love teaching teachers? It was a good day ❤️🎨

First Week of Year 22 ✅

There’s nothing better than an art studio full of creative thinking! Feels just right.

ABC! Always be creating. It’s the only way 💕

Scenes from the studio 💕🎨🖌️

Back to painting! Is there anything more healing than rest, painting and summer for this art teacher? 💕🥰

21 years of teaching ✅
I had the oddest end to my school year with a very serious medical scare. I’m alive and slowly on the mend.

It’s so easy to just ignore being a human as a teacher. Having a body. I was dressed for graduation and ended up in the ICU. While there? Thinking about my students.

We are teachers, through and through and it is the gift of my life. But I hereby promise to also nourish and care for my life.

Massive shoutout to my colleagues who cleaned my classroom for me and even sent this photo. My school family is my life and I am endlessly grateful.

That’s all for now, with a huge bow to all the medical professionals to keep the world so healthy. You are angelic warriors ❤️