Nature-Inspired Art Education for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Published on ERIC

My recent Masters Thesis has been published on a national education resource site called ERIC. For more information see this link https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED585197.

My thesis explores and researches the benefits of nature-inspired art education for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a day program setting. My students with disabilities created outdoor art inspired by the landscape art of Andy Goldsworthy

Source: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED585197

Moore's Young Artist Workshop

This past spring I enjoyed the opportunity of student teaching for an inclusive elementary class for Moore's Young Artist Workshop.  Most of the children I helped teach experience special needs.  For this population, teaching open ended learning objectives is best practices.  I was also impressed with how choice based learning and studio habits of mind could make sharing their special artistic gifts with the world accessible to these children.  Below is a learning objective I taught. Please see the resulting student work in the teaching section of my website. 

Primary Learning Objective: Through the exploration of layering a variety of semi-translucent 2D materials over smooth colored surfaces students will learn that different backgrounds can create interesting textures and new color relationships.

Secondary Learning Objective: Through mixing and matching different visual components of animals to create an imaginary animal uniquely their own students will learn that artist can manipulate shapes creatively

The students could choose from three stations with different mediums.

Accommodations: Since the students will be able to choose the medium they want to work with, those children who don’t like the chalkiness of pastels can choose to do collage or sponge painting.  Those children who feel intimidated about drawing their favorite animal can collage it instead.

 

Recent Illustration Project

This past summer I had the exciting opportunity to illustrate the opening credit sequence for a film in a series of water colors.  Some are pictured in the Illustrations section of this website. I won an award at the Accolade Global Film Competition for best water color artist.  To find out more about the movie see this link: https://www.facebook.com/DelawareShoreMovie/. 

Recent News

Recent Awards

I received the first award for a monoprint in the Beauty Gallery's Small Treasures Juried Exhibition.  The opening is December 5th from 5-8 pm. 3857 Providence Road. Newtown Square, PA, 19073. The show will be up through January 8th.