Portfolio of Student Works

Alex Ramirez, Self Portrait, Charcoal on paper, 16 by 20 inches. University of New Haven, Spring 2018, ARTS 1105: Basic Drawing I.

Katie Heinlein, Duck and Cover, Quilted fabrics. University of New Haven, Senior Seminar, Spring 2019.

Jonah Feintuck, Double Figure Study. Charcoal on paper, 30 x 22 inches. Framingham State University, Spring 2016, ARTS 300: Life Drawing.

Taline Norsigian, Cardboard Sculptures. Cardboard, hot glue, 10 by 8 by 4 inches. Kingswood Oxford, Fall 2016, Intro to Studio Art.

Najma Temu, Landscape, Acrylic on canvas board, 20 by 16 inches. University of New Haven, Spring 2018, ARTS 2201: Painting I.

Katherine Keller, Book Volume Project, Altered book. University of New Haven, Spring 2018, 3D Design.

Teres Audette, Collaged Figure Study. Torn pieces of painted paper, 24 x 18 inches. Framingham State University, Spring 2016, ARTS 300: Life Drawing.

Madison Sanborn, Bezold Color, Gouache on paper, 10 inches square. New Hampshire Institute of Art, BFA Foundations, Spring 2015, FND123B: Design II.

Ramier Williams, Pisa Baptistry, Cyanotype print on paper, 12 by 9 inches. University of New Haven, Prato Campus, Art Innovations, Summer 2019.

Kelsey Goosens, Abstraction in Stages, Acrylic paint on paper, 15 by 11 inches (each). Framingham State University, Art & Music, Spring 2015, ARTS120: Introduction to Painting for Non-Majors.

Mateusz Nodzewski, Still Life, Acrylic on canvas board, 20 by 16 inches. University of New Haven, Spring 2018, ARTS 2201: Painting I.

Adina Cosden, Self-Portrait Series, Charcoal on paper, 18 x 24 inches (left) and 22 x 30 inches (right). New Hampshire Institute of Art, BFA Foundations, Spring 2015, FND112-D: Compositional Drawing.

Emily Powers, Acrylic paint on plexiglass, Senior Thesis Project, University of New Haven, Fall 2018.

Claire Whall, Feature Studies: Eyes and Mouths, Ink on paper, sketchbook pages, 11 x 14 inches (each). New Hampshire Institute of Art, BFA Foundations, Spring 2015, FND112-D: Compositional Drawing.

Matthew Diblanda, Positive/Negative Shape Swap, cut paper on Bristol board, 17 by 14 inches. University of New Haven, Fall 2018, ARTS 1100: Visual Thinking.

Body Modification Project, Cardboard and Acrylic Paint. University of New Haven, Spring 2019, 3D Design.

Download a PDF of my student and professional portfolio here.

Teaching Philosophy

As a teacher, I hope to foster a passion for independent learning. My courses combine lectures and discussions on art history and theory with active time for creative exploration and critical reflection. I show students a variety of historical and contemporary works of art, entreating them to construct a personal canon of influences. By assessing and articulating their reactions to various approaches and outcomes in visual art, students sharpen their critical thinking skills. With practice, students acquire technical skills. Understanding the context and learning specific materials enables students to develop individual interests and strengths outside the classroom.

I often emphasize the planning and sketching phase of the creative process so students are challenged to find solutions beyond their initial ideas. Students are expected to improve skills throughout the semester. In particular, I have noticed that many visual art students struggle to write coherently about art. I encourage students to communicate effectively by reflecting on new material in group discussions and through formal and informal writing assignments. I help students reach expectations by offering structured assignments and detailed assessments.

My teaching style is flexible and approachable. Art is fun. Class assignments shift depending on the dynamic of a particular group, and I believe it is important to remain receptive to the needs of the class and individuals. I work with students to view art from a variety of vantage points including formal, conceptual, historical, cultural, and personal. In the end, students can discuss, create, and write about art more successfully.

Statement of Diversity

As an artist, my work champions the aesthetic of under-represented peoples and cultures by using decoration and patterning within a fine art context. This interest mimics the conceptual thread of the Pattern and Decoration Artists of the 1970s, whose feminists works were made with the intention of including and welcoming women and people of color.

As an educator, I have taught in the United States, especially in the Northeast at urban and suburban environments. I have also taught abroad in Africa as part of the Art in Embassies Program, where I learned how to cross-cultural divides and overcome language barriers using the universal language of art. As a Fulbright grantee, I believe that the arts are a powerful form of cultural diplomacy.

Lastly, as a writer, I am particularly interested in highlighting the works, artists, exhibitions, etc. that bring important social justice issues to the forefront. I intentionally use my voice as a writer to champion artists of color and from the LGBTQ community.

Complete Course List

College

Albertus Magnus, New Haven, CT

AR 213: Color (Spring 2017): Provides an overview of color theory and color mixing

Framingham State University, Framingham, MA

ARTS 120: Introduction to Painting for Non-Majors (Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016): Provides an overview of the history and technical application of various media including gouache, ink, acrylic, and oil paints
ARTS 300: Life Drawing (Spring 2016): Strengthens the student’s ability to draw and observe the human figure through a rigorous study of human anatomy, line variety, and value in connection with examples provided from art history and contemporary art

New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH

FND 113: Design Fundamentals I (Fall 2014, Fall 2015): Introduces the fundamentals of design, color theory, and the elements of art through observational drawing and exploratory design exercises
FND123: Design Fundamentals II (Spring 2015): Expands knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of design, color theory, and the elements of art
FND 112: Compositional Drawing (Spring 2015, Spring 2016): Refines observational drawing techniques and skills in service of well-crafted compositions

University of New Haven, CT

ARTS 1100: Visual Thinking (Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019): Two-dimensional design
ARTS 1105: Basic Drawing (Spring 2018): Introductory drawing course for majors and non-majors
ARTS 2201: Painting I (Fall 2017): Beginning paintings course for majors and non-majors
ARTS 3331: Contemporary Art History (Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019): Covers art history in the United States and Europe beginning in the 1940s and continuing until the present
ARTS 4403: History of New Media Art (Spring 2018): Artists using technology and new media are examined and the broader context of new media art is explored
ARTS 4407: 3D Design (Spring 2018): Three-dimensional design

University of New Haven: Prato Campus, Italy

ARTS 4403: Ingenuity in Italy (Summer 2019): students study how artists throughout time have used various technical practices and technologies to transfer the complex three-dimensional world around us onto flat surfaces

Graduate

New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH

MAE 501: Beginning Studio (Spring 2015, Fall 2016): Introductory level studio course for art educators to reignite a studio practice
MAE 503: Intermediate Studio (Spring 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016): Addresses the technical and conceptual concerns of a developing studio practice
MAE 504: Summer Residency Studio II (Summer 2015): Research and technical interests begin to codify into central topics and themes for the thesis paper
MAE 505: Thesis & Studio Intensive (Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017): Aid in the research, drafting, and refinement of the thesis document as well as the final portfolio of studio works

Community Education

New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH

Color Theory (Fall 2015) and Advanced Color Theory (Spring 2016)
Professional Practices for Artists (Spring 2016, Fall 2015)
Online Marketing for Artists (Spring 2017)