Throw Back Thursday...Art History...Mr. Elmore...

Something that I have started doing thanks to Instagram is the 'throw back Thursday' pic.  I have been trying to revisit art-related pictures- old works that I made, spaces that I have worked in, artist friends, inspirations...I look forward to taking a minute to reflect each week about my journey to where I am right now as an artist and a teacher.  

Today's pics reflect me as a teaching artist, which is something I take pride in.  The first picture is from the North Caroline Art Education Association conference, back when I was in the Art Education Guild at East Carolina University.  Sally, Jason and I came up with the skit for the 'Art History on Parade' event that was a big tradition at conference (I hope that they still do it!)  For this skit each one of us painted our own piece from art history, adding cutouts so that we could 'become' the piece.  I was the Mona Lisa, Sally was Picasso's 'Girl Before a Mirror' and Jason was Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'.  The whole concept was that Jason and I were realistic paintings hanging in the gallery and when the curator 'hung' Sally next to us we were like, 'Girl please.  You are NOT art.'  Cue silliness.  It was fun.  I really do love  some art history!

NCAEA 2001...having fun with art history!

Another pictured I posted was from the summer of 1998 (I think that was the year), back at ECU.  I was taking a painting class over the summer and it was one of the best times of my life.  Really.  That was really my only real painting class, and as I think back on the experience I think I wouldn't mind taking more painting classes.  Most of what I do is self-taught when it comes to painting...I think I could really benefit from more 'official' painting classes, or at least some self-study.  

Hmmmm...another summer project for me?  You betcha.

Quite possibly one of the best summers of my life.

Back to the painting class...a-ma-zing.  It was a combination of the whole studio setting...having the time during the summer to just focus...my newly rediscovered passion for painting (I had been so heavily engulfed in weaving and surface design since I had taken my textiles survey class)...or maybe it was the fact that I was taking the class with Mr. Elmore.

Sigh. A little teary-eyed.

I could devote a hundred blog posts to Mr. Elmore.  He was one of my toughest professors at ECU...and one of the best teachers I ever had.  Taking his class my first semester as a freshman really had an impact. Folks, he knows his stuff.  What he says matters.  If ever there was a professor that I wanted to approve of what I created of as an artist...it was him.  When Mr. Elmore said it was crap, yeah, it was.  If he said it was good- it was.  When he picked out one minuscule line in my drawing that was 'working'...I took a mental picture of that moment so I could revisit it any time I ever doubted myself as an artist.  He told me one time that my drawing had 'feeling lines'...I...died.  I snatched that moment up, kept it in my pocket to keep me going.  I took three classes with Mr. Elmore, two drawing classes and the painting class.  I feel that I really experienced growth and success in the painting course...my only regret is that I didn't keep painting after that.  I mean, I did paint some...I do paint some...but I feel like if I would have kept going...

Well, you never know.  And I can still pick up a brush, can't I?

So, anyway...Mr. Elmore...wherever you are...you are one of the greats.  Thank you for being my teacher and an inspiration.

My senior year, a visit to my roommate's 'student teaching' classroom by our favorite, Mr. Elmore.