FAQs
What are the criteria for acceptance to Teach Me Art?
Do you accept special education students?
What does the supply fee cover?
What services are available to home school students?
May students start any time during a session?
What is your teaching approach?
What is a typical lesson like?
What kinds of art media do you use?
Will my student’s artwork be exhibited anywhere?
What are the criteria for acceptance to Teach Me Art?
Teach Me Art School & Studio welcomes qualified students from all public,
private and home schools, and is an approved educational vendor for Connecting
Waters and Basis@Fame Charter Schools.
Potential students are invited to a free, one-on-one trial lesson with no
obligation before they register, so they and their parents can determine
whether Teach Me Art is a good fit.
No prior art training is needed. But
to get the most value out of the program, students should:
• Love art.
• Be highly motivated to learn.
• Have the ability to remain focused and attentive.
• Interact positively with
classmates and instructor.
Do you accept special education students?
All children who meet the above criteria are welcome.
What does the supply fee cover?
It covers top-quality, professional-grade materials used in class,
as well as take-home items that we consider essential. These might include
a sketchbook for home practice, a protective portfolio, and frames for drawings
or paintings selected by the instructor.
What services are available to home school students?
Teach Me Art School
is happy to prepare student progress reports and certificates of completion
upon request. As a California-credentialed K-12 art teacher, I am qualified
to ensure that Teach Me Art’s curriculum is aligned with the California
State Board of Education Visual Arts Standards.
May students start any time during a session?
Yes, and in that case their tuition will be pro-rated; however, the
supply fee is not prorated. No refunds or credits are issued for missed lessons,
but students may arrange make-up lessons with the instructor.
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What is your teaching approach?
My approach is based on individually observing and talking with each
student both before and during the session. I look at samples of the student’s work, discuss his
or her goals and interests, and place the student in a class with others of similar
age, ability and artistic interests.
I believe a solid art education is built on a foundation of classical art
and design principles, brought to life by focusing on materials and subjects
that students find exciting. For instance, a class of third-graders recently
learned about color theory and the concept of scale in composition, by mixing
their own hues and painting huge portraits of their favorite pets.
I use several complementary approaches. Students may seek inspiration
from my large collection of reference photographs and artworks. They’re encouraged
to use their imagination, to produce art that is uniquely their own. And
I strongly believe that they need to draw from life – whether a still life
of African masks or live models. The challenge of translating a three-dimensional
form into a two-dimensional image requires them to develop problem-solving
skills and encourages higher-level thinking.
What is a typical lesson like?
After a warm welcome, I introduce the
lesson and explain our goals. For instance, in a lesson on perspective,
our goals might be to illustrate depth by painting objects that overlap
and vary in size. I then show examples, demonstrate techniques, and answer
any questions. Students sketch their own ideas and experiment with materials.
If there are special requests, I make every effort to incorporate them.
After guiding and encouraging my students through the project’s completion,
I help them evaluate their work, emphasizing their successes and newly
acquired skills. After each lesson, I invite parents to see and discuss
their child’s work.
What kinds of art media do you use?
Your child will work with a variety of media, such as drawing pencils,
colored pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, oil crayons, polymer clay,
transparent, opaque and metallic watercolors, tempera, and acrylics. I
pay special attention to a student’s
media preferences.
Will my student’s artwork be exhibited anywhere?
We encourage Teach Me Art students to celebrate and share their artistic
achievements and arrange regular opportunities to do so in city-wide
art shows, and in our Teach Me Art Website
Gallery, an easily accessible
way for students to share their artwork with family and friends.
Previous and upcoming exhibits of work by Cathy Lyn
Harrison’s students include:
• Niles Wildflower and Art Festival “Teach Me Art” Exhibit
and Demonstration, Fremont, May 2008
• Alameda County Public Library, Union City, “Teach Me Art” Showcase Display,
March 2008
• Fremont Main Library “Teach Me Art” Showcase Display, January
2008
• Niles Art Walk/Ed Frakes Gallery, “Teach Me Art” Exhibit, Fremont,
October 2007
• Sun Gallery, Hayward, October 2007
• City of Fremont Teen Art Expo, 2007
• Olive Hyde Gallery “Funny Pages” Show, 2007
• Fremont Unified School District Headquarters - Student Art Exhibit, 2007
• Argus Newspapers Student Art Competition, Fremont, 2006
• Olive Hyde Gallery “Hidden Treasures/Local Talent”, 2006
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