The old adage “those who can’t, teach” is often thrown around, sometimes lightly, but in my experience, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Next time you run across an art teacher, ask them what projects they are working on, and I think you will be surprised with the answers you receive. Most art teachers are not only educators but are active, practicing artists whose role in the classroom actually strengthens their artistic skills. Here’s why-
One of the greatest benefits of teaching art is the need to cover a wide array of techniques, styles, and media. Every class presents new opportunities to explore methods that might deviate from my normal studio routine. In guiding students through everything from linocut printing to watercolor portraits, I keep my skills sharp and I’m often inspired to experiment.
By instructing different levels of students, from Drawing 1 classes to AP Studio Art, I stay versatile and adaptable. This exposure fosters an openness to try techniques I might not otherwise explore, which often leads to creative breakthroughs. Each lesson is an opportunity to rediscover art as both a teacher and an artist.
I believe art teachers are also mentors, helping students push the boundaries of their own concepts, especially in advanced classes like AP Studio Art. In helping students refine their ideas and test the limits of their media, teachers are, in turn, pushed to grow conceptually themselves. As a result, they frequently refine and deepen their own artistic ideas, gaining insights from their students' unique perspectives.
For example, AP students often explore complex themes and unconventional media that require the teacher’s input for both conceptual guidance and technical support. Helping students achieve their vision keeps art teachers in a constant state of creative problem-solving, these skills are later applied to their own work when they return to the studio.
Many art teachers are practicing artists, deeply engaged in both the creative and educational processes. Art classrooms are spaces of mutual growth, where students and teachers alike sharpen their skills, expand their minds, and create art together.
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