About
Welcome! I am a professional artist working in the Houston Heights. I also work as an Adjunct Professor of Art and for the Contemporary Art Museum Houston where I lead tours and workshops for all ages. I taught high school art for 5 years previously. I came to a career in art because I believe that a creative outlet is important. Let me help you reach your artistic goals, whether that's improving your technique, teaching you new methods/materials, or simply keeping you accountable to reaching your goal to "get your hands dirty" trying art for the first time.
I have experience in all levels of instruction, elementary to college. I prefer to book classes in blocks of 4-8 sessions so that I can create a cirruculum that is tailored to your goals. We can dive in depth into one medium and perfect your skills, or we can survey a new medium in each class. I created my own projects for all of the years I taught high school, and I enjoy curriculum writing and planning for students. I get a lot of satisfaction as a teacher when I see my students succeed.
Qualifications:
Texas Certified Teacher in Art, levels Early Childhood-12 grade
Masters in Visual Art in Painting
100% passing rate for AP Art students 2017-18
2013-2018 Middle/High School Art Teacher for YES Prep Public Schools
2018-Present FAQ Team at Contemporary Art Museum Houston
2020-Present Adjunct Professor of Art at San Jaciento College and Lone Star College
I enjoy working with students because I get satisfaction out of helping an artist achieve their goals. I believe that art making is a skill that one can improve with instruction and practice. Beyond the technique, the soft skills needed for art making are transferable to many areas of life. Artists must master confidence and risk taking and learn to overcome mistakes.
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Megan T.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I focus on the specific needs of my student. Why else would you seek a private lesson? For private art lessons: I like to book lessons in groups of at least 4-8 so that the student and I can work toward a goal over the course of the lessons. I present a calendar with an overview of our lessons with a specific goal for each lesson so that my students can see what they are working toward and feel successful after each class. If we want lessons to continue beyond the initial 4-8 lesson plan, we can make arrangements for that too. For art portfolio tutoring: I book sessions one at a time and ask a student to bring their current portfolio. Together we review the portfolio and I discuss key pieces that are missing that will strengthen the cohesive portfolio and give critique using the one thing method. What is the one thing that you can do to improve this artwork for your portfolio. I also assist with artist statements.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have my MFA in painting and I have 5 years of experience as a Texas Certified middle/high school art teacher. I taught AP Art for 3 years. In my last year as an AP teacher my students earned a 100% passing rate on the AP Art Portfolio Exam. I currently teach college art classes in 2D Design and Drawing and lead tours and workshops for artists of all ages at the Contemporary Museum of Art.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My lessons are typically 1-2 hours long and I charge $80/hour for a private lesson. I can accomodate up to four people in a lesson, but the cost will increase with additional students. I'll provide a supply list for you to bring, or we can work with what you already have. I do provide some non-consumable supplies for free to use in lessons, such as easels or pencil sharpeners. For art portfolio tutoring, I charge $60/hour for one student and $80/hour for two students. Portfolio tutoring has some hands on art instruction, but is mostly critique and strategy for improving a students cohesive art portfolio for application to schools or programs.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching in 2013 when I got a job founding the art department at a YES Prep Public School and fell in love with teaching art. I have since earned my MFA and begun teaching college classes.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with elementary, middle, high school, college, and adult students.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would make sure you talk to the teacher about your goals and see that they will help you achieve them. Do you want to increase your technical skills in realistic drawing? Do you want to try oil paint for the first time and learn to do it safely? Do you want to learn about color theory for your acrylic paintings? There are so many different things to cover in a visual art lesson and you want to make sure your teacher will meet your needs.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
You should know what you want to accomplish and be honest about the level at which you are currently working. You should also disucss how often you will be able to practice or work outside of class. Do you want to walk away with one completed painting? Do you want small exercises in each class that build your skills but don't necessicarily result in a large masterpiece? Do you want to sample multiple types of art-making or go into depth into just one?