Welcome to the Art Room!
Hello and welcome! At the time of this post’s publishing, I am prepping for (and eagerly anticipating!) my fourth year teaching Art at Flint Hills Christian School. My name is Amy Foutch and I give full credit to God for opening this professional door to doing what I love most! May He continue to bless the hearts and minds that come into this classroom. I am constantly working and striving to prove the credible academic field of Art (it is art education, after all) and showcase its many diverse forms. At the very least, I hope to provide a Biblically enriching, supportive, and fun atmosphere for students — plus some art to take home.
The Art Room is a classroom first and a creative space second. I endeavor to engage and instruct the students well and give them exposure to and skills across a variety of art-making methods. I believe there is something within Art for everyone. We are all made in the image of a Creator, and it is my joy and honor to promote creativity and the art of creating in this space. Art is an excellent way to communicate about our physical and spiritual experience as humans, and, as Christians, we are uniquely able to offer a message of hope, Truth, (God’s) faithful promises, kindness, and a host of other fruits of the Spirit to a world (and Art community) in great need of this.
My theme verse for the program is Romans 1:20 – “For [God’s] invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (HCSB translation, my own emphasis added)
A bit about what to expect…
My art teaching philosophy is what’s called “modified choice” in the world of art education. I operate on a wide spectrum of designated projects to complete student choice depending on the age and needs of the students. I try to be as responsive as possible to the interests and abilities of those within my classroom; so, oftentimes, no year looks exactly the same. I have followed a [modified choice] DBAE (Discipline-based Art Education) form for some – with some freedom of artistic decisions left to the students; and also went completely into a TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) classroom for others. I see both art education philosophies as pieces of the same puzzle with inherent merits and drawbacks – as is the nature of most if not all things.
In general, the elementary grades focus on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, learn about select artists, and apply these across major forms of art-making such as drawing, painting, collage, fibers, sculpture, and printmaking. I try to provide at least one project within each of these art forms, per grade, per school year – Hey, sometimes miracles happen. The secondary art electives rely on this foundation to focus on advancing art skill development. Students then apply their own ideation to various types of art such as abstract, conceptual, kinetic, collaborative, etc. If this sounds like fun, it’s because it is.
Thank you for taking an interest in the art program at Flint Hills Christian School! I welcome questions at any time. Ultimately, I hope your student comes away with a positive art education experience that equips them with a variety of skills but most importantly a love for God, His Word, and their unique purpose as His creation.
I can be reached by email at art@fhcsks.org
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