Patrick Cosgrove Art And Photography
About
I'm a generalist — I have wide experience in (or at least exposure to) a variety of arts, from drawing & painting, to photography, to filmmaking, to cartooning, to writing fiction. The point of this is to say that I'm interested in creativity in whatever form it takes. That wide creative interest, combined with my experience of teaching Film Studies to undergraduates, then American Literature, Art, Film, and Photography to high school students for fifteen years, gives me a flexibility in teaching techniques for a wide variety of student needs.
Helping others discover their inherent creative power (and we all have it) brings the same kind of satisfaction as my own creative efforts. So much of what we all do in unleashing our creativity has to do with dropping inhibitions, taking chances, making mistakes, and accepting accidents. Seeing students make something that they never dreamed they could make has been one of the best experiences of my life.
You can see my work and get an informal profile at:
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
As a former educator in the public school system, I've learned that a vital first step is to meet the student where they are: to find out what they can do, what they want to do better or even for the very first time before trying to bring them forward along a learning path. Imposing expectations of a final result from my end, rather than discovering the student's beginning of their unique journey, will do no good.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Painting and Photography
Arts Master (AM) and Doctoral Candidacy (ABD) Film Studies
California Teaching Credential
Career Technical Education (CTE) Credential
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
This is in progress.... I anticipate usually charging per lesson for as long as the student cares to extend the experience
How did you get started teaching?
I was a Graduate Teaching Fellow of Film Studies during my PhD work at the University of Michigan. I subsequently worked in the Hollywood studio system for seven years before leaving the Industry to raise my sons. When it was time to re-enter the working world outside the home, I began a fifteen-year teaching career at a public high school that included all levels of English, American Literature, Critical Thinking, Studio Art, Film Studies, and finally Photography until retirement.
What types of students have you worked with?
See above
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
This past year I was a member/participant in the Yolo Arts Organization's Annual Art Farm Gala, a fundraiser for the arts and land preservation. Two of my paintings were exhibited at a public showing and subsequently auctioned successfully as a contribution to YoloArts.org. I have since made farm visits to participate in their Art and Ag Program, gathering images of the economic and cultural lifeblood of Yolo County.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure that you can communicate easily from a technical standpoint (via online, email, phone, whatever the case is) but also from an emotional standpoint: you want to feel understood, appreciated for your vulnerability, and encouraged.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What is your desired journey (which is a more fruitful way to go forward than describing a desired goal — Art is an experience, not an achievement).
What do you need from an Instructor? A level of expertise, a clarity of communication? Specific structure in lessons or a gentle push toward personal experimentation?
What kind of experience do you want/anticipate? A classroom-like regularity, an open-ended checking in, a companionable resource to accompany the myriad online experiences available through the internet?