Featured Art Teacher: Barbara Ferreira

Barbara Ferreira is a native Texan who received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art History from the University of Texas, a Master of Arts in Art History from Texas Woman’s University, and her Education and Teacher Certification in All-Level Art from Texas Christian University.  Barbara has been an educator for about 27 years and teaches Advanced Placement art history and middle- and upper-school Visual Arts at Allen Academy in Bryan, TX.  Her student, Rees Newman, was selected as a Top Ten Winner in our Spring 2013 national art contest in the 4-6 grade division. To view Rees’ art, click here.  “I’m so happy for Rees,” Barbara explains, “She is a hard-working, talented and deserving student to place as a top ten winner.  I am honored to be her art instructor and help guide her in her artistic endeavors.”
 
We asked Barbara to share her philosophy of teaching art and how she is able to motivate and her inspire her students.

“My philosophy of teaching art is simple:  set the standards high, make the projects interesting and challenging, and don’t allow the students to stop short of their very best efforts and abilities.  Often they will think they are ‘finished’, and give a little sigh or moan when I guide them in seeing what else could be done to make a better, more successful piece.  They are amazed at the final product which that little bit of extra effort produces, and it also helps to develop in them a critical eye with which they can analyze their own work and make more informed judgements.  I love my profession and find it very rewarding to teach students the skills necessary to produce art and watch them apply those skills and be recognized for their efforts.  It is fun to share in their joy!
 
Thank you for sponsoring this contest!  It encourages my students immensely when they become a ‘published artist’ in the 6th-12th grade!”

Congratulations again to Barbara on having a national Top Ten Winner, as well as to all of her students who are now published artists!  We have enjoyed seeing great art from her students since she began participating in our contest in 2012.  Barbara has had nearly 70 student artists published so far and that number continues to grow each contest. 

To learn more about our national art contest, visit http://www.CelebratingArt.com.

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Featured Student Artist: Kyler Welden

A student at Bryan High School in Ohio, a school CelebratingArt.com knows for its incredible pottery abilities (as well as other forms of art), Kyler Welden has been published several times for his talented art pieces. Kyler was first published in our Summer 2012 book for his pottery “Ocean.”  After that, he was selected as a Top Ten Winner in our Spring 2013 contest for “Sun Set.”  Finally, Kyler was chosen yet again as a Top Ten Winner for his piece “Ring Tea Set” in our Summer 2013 contest. You can see all three pieces below (“Ocean” shown first, then “Sun Set”, last is “Ring Tea Set”):

Kyler enjoys hunting and fishing, and loves ceramics. Kyler explains, “My inspiration to try pottery was my sister Whitney’s friends. Two of her friends that she hung around with a lot gave her some mugs and I thought it would be cool to be able to drink out of something that I made.”

In the future, Kyler plans to graduate from college. He is unsure what he wants to study in school, but he does want to go. He also wants to continue pottery for the rest of his life.

To learn more about our national art contest, visit www.CelebratingArt.com.