Nothing gets me more excited than to see the creative clutter that invetably surrounds art students who are fully engaged in the creative process.

I love to see them think and work and even struggle a bit before they eventually succeed. I often see art students transforming into beautiful butterflies themselves as their creations emerge.  Art does that to kids. The very process of creating complex artwork transforms them into something amazing and lovely and better because of the process. 

I observed the clutter and the chaos of artmaking recently when I gave up some of my summer vacation to host my “Be Smart Make Art” summer art camp for middle school and high school students.  They came to my school, Highland Academy Charter School, in Beaumont, CA and worked their artistic magic.  The participants were fantastic artists and storytellers with ideas and thoughts and problem-solving skills.  They were fully engaged in their art making and I marveled at their joy at being in school in July!

The students made vibrant swirly landscapes in the style of Vincent Van Gogh and detailed masks inspired by many cultures.  They had kinesthetic experiences with Jackson Pollock splatter paintings and wrote original poetry. A guest cartoonist, Patrick Scullin, taught them character development and creative storytelling.  They drew charcoal portraits in the style of Chuck Close and experimented with so many drawing and painting tools. All the while they were transforming and growing in their art skills and their confidence in communicating artistically with narratives that were original as they designed their own fresh perspectives on each theme. 

In a perfect world, I would probably be a full-time artist, because the process of creating art really brings me joy.  But alas, reality dictates that I must make a living and so I picked the next best thing to being an artist.  I am an art teacher and I love it.  Every day I get to discuss art and assist my art students as they create amazing projects. In spite of the chaos and clutter that surrounds really busy artmaking, I really love my job as an art teacher just out there helping kids create.   Kandra Scullin, MFA ART, BA ART ED