My Favorite Teacher- BFF 201

    With millions of children’s school year coming to an end, it is only natural to reflect on the teachers that molded and shaped each of us.   I rarely wander down memory lane.  In my life most things and people who were in the past remain in the past.  After much careful thought I found I couldn’t narrow it down to one favorite teacher.  Since I lived and breathed art all through school, it is little wonder that both of the teachers that tied for the title of favorite teacher in my heart taught art.

        As I progressed through high school, I spent more and more time in the art department.  By senior year I spent 4 of the 7 hours I was in the school studying and practicing my art in either Dr. Linda Kennedy’s or Mrs. Janet Hales’ classrooms.  Mrs. Hales smile could light up the world.  She was the kindest soul and was always quick with a hug and a word of praise and encouragement.  She taught me technique and encouraged me to try new things.  

       However, it was Dr. Kennedy who pushed my creative boundaries.  Being the department chair at the time, she opened doors for me to explore art even further through after school life drawing workshops.  By senior year my whole focus was on developing my advance placement portfolio to be submitted for college credit at the end of senior year.  Dr. Kennedy was instrumental in analyzing my strengths and interests to help me to develop a thesis that I could do my absolute best on.  I focused on the human form.  I did self portraits in pastels and portrayed myself in sculpture.  My work was exhibited down town at the Midwest Museum of American Art and chosen to be apart of a special exhibit that earned pride of place at the local hospital.  She opened doors in the art world and I waltzed through them.

       They both guided me creatively and helped me to have confidence and pride in my work.  They fanned the creative talent they saw in me and encouraged me to do work I would not have felt possible.  They encouraged me to have fun with it, and taught me how to be serious and nurture the perfectionist in me.  They taught me that art is ultimately all about personal expression and that a person’s artistic abilities could manifest in many ways.

       Even now, my creativity has found an outlet here.  Looking back on the art that I created back in those days I can see their guidance in each piece.  I remember how creative they both were and how they each pushed me to create what I saw and what I felt.  They taught me to see the world in terms of shape, color, and emotion.  Thanks to them, I learned how to process what I seen into whatever I created.  They taught me to pour my soul into my work.  I learned to think outside of the box and discover all the possibilities.  I am certain that without their influence, I wouldn’t be the creative person I am today and I am so happy that I was fortunate enough to have each of them as teachers until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.