About
I've been an artist all of my life, and have taught elementary, middle and high school visual arts classes in public schools for 10 years.
For the last two years, I taught all upper level and AP (advanced placement) drawing and painting classes. I have a BA in studio arts and am certified as Creatively Fit Life Coach and Art Therapy Coach. I actively teach intuitive painting and fine art workshops in my area and online.
My passion is connecting and reconnecting students and adults to art! There's something soothing and calming about creating. I believe everyone is innately creative in one way or another.
I never, EVER ask my students to do something that I haven't taught them to do first. Previous high school students have commented on my teaching, saying "I didn't really like art until I took your class. Now I've experienced art in a new way - your teaching makes it simple and fun!"
Simply put, I LOVE all aspects of art and I'm all about making it simple and fun!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debby.meadows0930
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbystroud65/
My website: https://www.debbystroud.com/
Photos and videos
Reviews
Jennifer W.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Typically, during the first meeting, I'll gauge the ability level of the student with a few different fun exercises. This allows me to build a curriculum that will benefit the student and scaffold their abilities.
Then I survey the student to find out what art media they love, problem areas, and subject matter.
My art lessons build upon each other, meaning a skill learned in one lesson may be a building block for the next.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in Studio Art / Art Education and a Masters in Teacher Leadership and Gifted Education.
I have taught in public school classrooms K-12 for 10 years.
I actively make art and sell it.
I actively teach online and in-person painting workshops.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$30 for thirty minute lessons
$60 for sixty minute lessons
How did you get started teaching?
I grew up a wannabe artist. Although I've created art all of my life, I had a career in the medical field before I became an art teacher. At the age of 40, a door opened for me to go to college to become an art teacher! I've been living my dream and loving it since then.
I LOVE teaching art. My students inspire me daily, and I'm constantly amazed at the art they produce.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students with special needs, autistic students, elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8) and high school students (9-12). I especially enjoyed working with high school AP (Advanced Placement) art classes.
I've taught adult drawing and painting workshops, and currently sell courses online and creatively coach online.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Kansas for a Creatively Fit Coaching Retreat. I have many friends all across the world who are Creatively Fit Coaches, and it was especially fun meeting up with them. We made art for FOUR days - we created a large canvas that we all collaboratively painted on, and each of us had a 6 x 6 canvas of our own. We painted 13 different layers on our canvases, incorporating symbols and journaling right onto the artwork. The high point was finishing our own 6 x 6 canvas (which we rolled up and took on the plane) and then tearing the large collaborative piece into individual squares (12 x 12) so we each could take a part of the piece back home with us. It was an amazing time of creating; GREAT art was made, I learned new art teaching techniques and facilitated great friendships!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Ask to look at their work!! Many teachers 'say' they can draw or paint, but the proof is in the work. My mantra is that I'm an artist who teaches, not a teacher who teaches art. Art should be a BIG part of an art teacher's life, and they should be actively making work as well as teaching the subject.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
1. What am I interested in? Get clear on what you would like your results to be.
2. How much time am I actually willing to spend on my art? The fact is, if you don't practice, you won't get better. I can teach anyone to draw or paint - IF they spend the time practicing.
3. Am I willing to commit to this, even when it gets hard? There will come a time when the honeymoon period wears off and you are pushed out of your comfort zone. That's where the growth happens! Please trust me. I may push you, but there's a silver lining in it!