Tiny Mural Teacher Volunteers
Three of Mount Carmel’s art teachers — Laurel Thomas (Mount Carmel High School), Caitlin Jones (Ambassador Christian Academy), and Coleman Stevenson (independent adult art education) have been instrumental in making the Tiny Mural Project come to life. Market Street MTC had a chance to chat with them about their personal art practices and what called them to be teachers. Check out those interviews here!
What called you to teach art?
Laurel Thomas: I wanted to become an Art Teacher for several reasons. I really looked up to my art teacher in high school and the impact that she had on all of us. I wanted to help students find themselves on their artistic journey as well. In addition, being able to have an impact on students in any capacity as a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.
Caitlin Jones: So, that’s a funny story. I didn’t go to school for art or to be a teacher. I’m actually in marketing and decorate specialty cookies on the side. The headmaster at ACA saw some of my work and thought I’d be good for the role. After much prayer, I decided to give it a try!
Coleman Stevenson: Initially I was seeking a profession that would allow me to make a living but still be connected to art. But once I started teaching, it quickly became a calling to help students realize that they are capable of so much more than they think they are.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching art?
LT: My favorite thing about teaching art is watching the process. From start to finish, you get to watch these kids create something. They first get to hear the assignment and the goals, which starts the gear turning and the planning. Then, as they work on their art, they have to problem solve, practice techniques, and overcome frustrations. And at the very end, after all the time and effort, you get to see this creation that this student is so proud of and share that feeling of pride and success they feel with them. Every artwork is like a victory to an artist.
CJ: I love seeing their creativity come to life. I give them general guidelines and they run with it to create things I would’ve never imagined.
CS: I primarily teach adult learners, originally at the undergrad level and now post-grad exclusively. What I love about teaching folks at this level is that they often already have a developed creative practice, and I get to coach them through stuck spots, open them up to new ways of working, and help them understand their own style and goals better. It’s awesome to see fellow artists have epiphanies about their creative process and then start making art in whole new, freer ways.
What’s the hardest thing about teaching art?
LT: The hardest thing about teaching art is trying to help the students that don't want help. Art is subjective, however there is a certain amount of skill that needs to be learned at each stage of school. Pushing students to become the best version of themselves is the goal, and any push back from that can be hard to manage. This is especially true whenever you have to watch someone that has so much more potential settle for something less than their best.
CJ: Fitting ideas and projects into a small class period. I like to find projects that fit into one class period so we can do something new each week.
CS: The hardest thing is when the learner is reluctant to try something new. I’ve dedicated myself to finding ways around these stubborn blocks, usually in the form of exercises that take control away from the artist temporarily and help them see that it’s not such a scary thing to be less rigid in their process as well as in their idea of what art is.
Tell us about your own creative practice. What kind of work do you do?
LT: I love to create things for other people. I am often asked for things that my friends and family would like done, in addition to creating art as gifts for the people I care about. I also do commission work for some of the hobbies that I participate in. My husband and I play a lot of board games and card games, so I often make custom pieces for those. Lastly, I have a habit of redecorating my house every few months, or whenever the mood strikes!
CJ: I spend most of my free time decorating specialty cookies. Is royal icing a medium? lol
CS: I work primarily with ink and paint on paper, various printmaking methods (especially relief printing and monotype), collage, and assemblage. I often work in series and incorporate a lot of chance-based methods into my process. Since I’m also a writer, text is frequently part of my visual imagery, and I love to play with the shapes of letters and words, using them for their visual forms more than their meanings.
What would you say to someone who feels like they are not creative?
LT: If someone feels like they are not creative, I would tell them that they just haven’t found the thing that they are passionate about yet. Whenever you really care about something, a hobby, a subject, or a person, you start to think of a million ways that you can experience it. You start to wonder how you can incorporate different aspects of your life to encompass that thing, or how you can show someone how you feel about them, or how to improve something, and so on. Find something you love, and run with it.
CJ: Find something you love doing and then do it differently than everyone else. That’s creativity.
CS: I’d say that they probably have untapped creativity inside and it’s a matter of finding the right inspiration or method to unleash it. I think everyone is creative in some way; they might simply need to try making something a new way or to broaden what they think qualifies as a creative act. Creative thinking isn’t limited to professional artists painting on canvases to be hung in museums. It’s also in how a person dresses or decorates their home or cooks dinner or shows love to their friends and family. It’s in so many things we do as humans when we want to express emotions or demonstrate who we are to others.
Tiny murals are located inside the following businesses:
Backyard Markets/Constant Cravings (552 N Market St)
Carey’s Magnificent Mercantile (224 N Market St)
Just Around the Corner (117 E 4th St)
Maddie’s Lodge Antiques & Collectibles (224 N Market St)
Market Street Mercantile (420 N Market)
Tabletop Masters (411 N Market St)
Two Farmers (623 N Market St)