About Me (Mr. Silvers)...
To simply say that I love teaching art would be an understatement. I wake up everyday with a sense of excitement knowing that I will get to teach students about something that I am extremely passionate about! Although some days are better than others, everyday brings new adventures. As if that were not enough, I am also truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with a great group of students here at Ivy Hawn. It doesn't get any better than that.
Before finding my dream job, I served four years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), followed by several years working at the Florida Department of Law enforcement (FDLE) in a non-sworn capacity. I graduated Florida State University (GO NOLES!) with a B.S. in Criminology and a B.A. in Studio Art (an odd combination). I have been creating artwork since I could hold a pencil. I remain engaged in creating my own artwork and practicing what I preach. Outside of creating and teaching art, I love baseball, collecting stuff (coins, stamps, and indian artifacts), learning about history, hiking, and spending time with my wife and two children.
I believe that art should be taught in a way that promotes creativity - even if that means occasional failure. The famous painter, Henri Matisse summed it up well when he said, "creativity takes courage". I would rather see a student reach far outside the box and falter than to never make an attempt to take a chance. In art, as most things in life, success can ONLY be found by failing along the way. This is not to say that I do not expect students to find success; just simply, I want them to find it without fear of making mistakes. It is necessary to teach students about the importance of craftsmanship, developing techniques, and taking the time to examine their art at every stage of the creative process. No matter the style or art movement, great artists never slapped paint on a canvas without careful thought behind each brush stroke (even Jackson Pollock had a process). It is my sincere hope that students who leave my classroom will have an a deeper appreciation for the creative process and their own self.
Before finding my dream job, I served four years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), followed by several years working at the Florida Department of Law enforcement (FDLE) in a non-sworn capacity. I graduated Florida State University (GO NOLES!) with a B.S. in Criminology and a B.A. in Studio Art (an odd combination). I have been creating artwork since I could hold a pencil. I remain engaged in creating my own artwork and practicing what I preach. Outside of creating and teaching art, I love baseball, collecting stuff (coins, stamps, and indian artifacts), learning about history, hiking, and spending time with my wife and two children.
I believe that art should be taught in a way that promotes creativity - even if that means occasional failure. The famous painter, Henri Matisse summed it up well when he said, "creativity takes courage". I would rather see a student reach far outside the box and falter than to never make an attempt to take a chance. In art, as most things in life, success can ONLY be found by failing along the way. This is not to say that I do not expect students to find success; just simply, I want them to find it without fear of making mistakes. It is necessary to teach students about the importance of craftsmanship, developing techniques, and taking the time to examine their art at every stage of the creative process. No matter the style or art movement, great artists never slapped paint on a canvas without careful thought behind each brush stroke (even Jackson Pollock had a process). It is my sincere hope that students who leave my classroom will have an a deeper appreciation for the creative process and their own self.