Educationally Influenced

       A stand-out influence unto my education was my art teacher, Miss West, throughout middle school through high school.  Besides being taught and encouraged to explore theories of color and design, I was taught to investigate my own morals through art work.  My teacher pushed me and other students to think outside of the box and create art that was able to tell a story.  Each different element that was studied throughout my educational art career opened up new insight into complexities that I never realized were present.  For instance, different pieces that were created needed to incorporate different subjects such as geometry and angles, music, and history.  Miss West influenced me to use art as an outlet and develop my natural abilities to create beautiful works that have been appreciated by many.  Although I do not regularly practice creating art, I have had the opportunity to construct art, mainly through painting, to contribute to different projects for which I have been compensated for my efforts.  Without my art teacher, I definitely would not have had the confidence in my art skills to have been able to share them like I have.  My art teacher also fully encouraged dialogue throughout the classroom which helped set the creativity free.  To this day, I believe that art class is an invaluable tool for everybody and regardless of natural abilities should be fully explored.  With an influence such as I had, confidence can be gained and people can use art to be themselves and express their feelings.