Art allows individuals to express themselves and learn about the world, helping them to develop resilience and an openness to other perspectives they will learn of on their creative journey.
“I think the most important thing in learning how to make art is facing your fears,” Mrs. Duda said.
Mrs. Duda is an art teacher at Cathedral Prep. She enjoys creatively solving problems and thinking of new ideas for projects. Recently, she has been learning how to crochet for her Textile class.
“[Crocheting] is something I can do while relaxing and is something that I can always pick [back] up,” Mrs. Duda said. “[Because] I have [had] to work really hard to get better at [crocheting to teach my] Textile Design [class], it [has become] a love language for me in the arts.”
Creative problem solving inspires Mrs. Duda to perceive life “[through] different lenses” and consider different approaches to new situations.
”My mistakes inspire my creativity as [looking at situations through different perspectives] makes me work through a different route or process that I haven’t thought of before to make a solution to a problem,” Mrs. Duda said.
During high school, Mrs. Duda was in an after-school art program which she attended in a neighboring town. It granted her numerous opportunities to explore her creativity and hone her skills, helping her to build resilience when facing creative doubts.
“My art teacher [always] saw something in me and in my work, even if it was not great or noteworthy,” Mrs. Duda said. “[The art program] led me to a lot of exciting opportunities; like traveling the country, meeting well-known artists, and exhibiting my work on public platforms.” “I think being given these tools, [opportunities], and foundations of confidence shaped my lack of fear in being creative.”
One of Mrs. Duda’s struggles with her creativity during high school was an apparent inability to “articulate [her] thoughts and feelings into a drawing.”
During a flight back from a ceramic conference, Mrs. Duda spoke with John Gill, a renowned ceramic artist and professor, who explained that an art piece is never truly done and can always be improved.
”Nothing you ever make, [sculpt, or draw] is wrong,” John Gill said to Mrs. Duda. “We can always return to our work and improve upon it in a way that we think we can or should. Because of how ever evolving a piece of artwork can be, there’s no reason to fear it.”
Erin Dakas is a grad student who is earning her master’s degree in Art Therapy. She enjoys painting, drawing, crocheting, sculpting, and other mediums.
”I really enjoy trying different crafts and trying out different [creative] ideas,” Dakas said.
Viewing creative works, such as those of Mary Blair and James Jean, and the world inspire Dakas to be creative.
“Observing the world around me gives me [many] creative ideas, like seeing a stained-glass window or a stunning fall tree against a bright blue sky,” Dakas said.
Like Mrs. Duda, Dakas took art classes in high school, specifically graphic design, printmaking, and ceramics. In addition to these classes, her mother’s encouragement inspired her to explore her creativity.
“All of these experiences have exposed me to [various] art theories, movements, and ideas that have not only influenced how I create, but [also] how I view the world,” she said.
During difficult moments, Dakas expresses her emotions through abstract drawing. With the knowledge she gained from doing this, she wishes to teach others how to creatively express their emotions and understand them.
“Emotions can be difficult for some to name and express,” Dakas said. “Making art is a way to put [those] emotions on paper [and] makes them easier to understand.
