Entering her 34th year teaching at AISB, ELC Art Teacher Angela Achim can claim to be the longest-serving teacher at our school. She is passionate and enthusiastic about what she does and wishes to be able to stay in this field for as long as possible.
What follows is Angela’s story, in her own words:
I love working with young children. They’re so open-minded and willing to experience all aspects of visual art. Young children rarely need persuading to enjoy art or say they’re artists. I don’t hear ‘I’m not an artist or I can’t draw.’
Whereas when they get older, some may lose their confidence. They see what others can do and may compare themselves in their minds. ‘He’s an artist, I’m not.’ Young children are all artists, all musicians, all athletes, all scientists… We give it a try, we persevere. The children have such freshness. I love the open willingness to try everything in young artists.
[Young children are] positive and glowing, they haven’t had life’s difficulties knock them down. Because life can be hard. They’re just so inspirational, open and enthusiastic about everything.
Picasso said: ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’
That’s my Art Teacher motto.
All children are artists, then later they may think they can’t do it, or aren’t able to accomplish their ideas, but I think adults are artists too. Adults have longer attention spans and patience, but many don’t have the openness and confidence that children have, or that they themselves had as a child. Young children know they can create fantastic art, and are very proud of it. Once a young child has settled into school they are open-minded and courageous in this aspect.