About
I truly love making art, but I think I love teaching even more, if that is possible. For me, supporting, encouraging and facilitating other people's creative expression brings so much joy. Children are my favorite people in the world, and being intuitive, they know this when they meet me. They also sense that they are safe, that they are seen and heard, that they are appreciated.
I love how much joy it brings my students, how proud of themselves they feel, how excited they are to share what we did together. I love seeing them develop confidence in following their own instincts, and developing skills that they will use all their life long. It feels importnat to me, and impactful, which is very satisfying.
I prefer to teach individuals and small groups because of the interpersonal connection. I have experience running art classes and art events for larger groups; even hosted a summer art camp out of my painting studio in Ohio, which combined making art and visitng other artists in adjacent studios and taking a trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum. In addition, I have taught 72 small children within the space of 2 hours, running from room to room to lead a series of 30 minute lessons, one after another. So, private and small group lessons are both a luxury and a pleasure for me.
Highlights
Photos and videos
Reviews
Rama D.
Alison W.
Brenda R.
Rebecca S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
With adult students, I like for them to bring me a work they are pleased with and another one that they struggled with or to share what makes them feel discouraged or dissatisfied. If they haven't made art in a long time, we will talk about what or who inspires them and what type of art they wish they could make.
With kids, it unfolds more spontaneoulsy and organically. I provide materials and use intinct to find out what they can do, what they love to do, what they're good at, and what excites them. I use stories and master artworks to inspire. I would also LOVE to be able to bring them to see art at the renwick and other Smithsonian venues, when parents feel happy about that optiobn, we will go and sit on the floor with our pad of paper and our pastels, crayons, watercolors, pencils, etc.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I minored in art history at Harvard, and after graduation, obtained a decorative painting certificate from Parsons School of Design. I have been supporting and guiding individual artists and groups of artists, ages 5 to 75, since 2007. For seven years, I taught art at Yavneh Day School in Cincinnati (now the Rockwern academy) at my own studio in Cincinnati, and hosted weekly adult painting circles in my home. Since moving to the DC area in 2013, I have taught artists from age 18 months to 11 years in my home as well as at the Milton Gottesman school (DC) and at Takoma Park Child Development Center (Maryland).
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Private lessons for students age 5 and up in my home cost $25 for 40 minutes, not including art materials. An hour-long lesson costs $35, and a 90 minute private lesson costs $45. A pair of students coming for a lesson together pays an additional $10, no matter the length of the lesson. So, $35 for 40 minutes, $45 for an hour and $55 for 90 minutes. For each additional student, add another $10, up to a maximum of 6 students. (So, teaching 4 students for an hour is $65; 6 students for an hour is $85)
How did you get started teaching?
When my eldest son was in kindergarten, I volunteered at his school to present a canned art curriculum, inspired by great artists history, into his class. We moved from Michigan to Ohio and when my other boys reached the same age, I developed my own curriculum to bring into their classroom. I then went on to develop a program to offer as an after school program in my home amd then a summer camp program. Parents expressed envy of the fun their children were having with me and I began creating a variety of opportunities for adults to make art with me as well. It is so much fun to unleash and nurture the creative spark in people, and to help them develop their innate talent. It just never gets old.