"May your hands be an extension of your heart and may you do the work of love with them."

-Claude Monet

Students will explore various art mediums and forms, such as air-drying clay, painting, watercolor, and mixed media techniques. They will also study art history and seek inspiration from nature and their surroundings to establish a stronger connection between art and the natural world.

About

Monica Bucknam: I have been teaching art and design for 25 years at the preschool, elementary, and college levels. Additionally, I have worked as a professional designer and artist for 29 years. I am a mother of two daughters, and have been married for 23 years. I truly enjoy guiding and mentoring students in expanding and enhancing their creative gifts and imagination.

I also mentor students to do work for the greater good in serving others by utilizing their creative skills and entrepreneurship mindset.

Art Education

Philosophy and goals: It is as important to recognize the valuable emotional and developmental growth that is fostered by creating visual art, as it is to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of art. Each student is encouraged, through their art making process, to feel personal success, independence, and joy while learning about and making works of art.

Each step in the process of creating a final piece of artwork, offers the students opportunities to learn new materials, techniques and art history, while at the same time encourage them to think critically, develop their own unique solutions, and work expressively.

I aim to expose the students to a wide range of art materials, methods, and artistic styles in hopes that each student will connect with his or her personal talents and master visual skills in a variety of ways.

Most importantly, I work to lay a positive foundation in the visual arts that instills the value of artistic expression and to inspire future creative interests.

Mentorship Highlight

• American Red Cross Los Angeles; A Passion Project with Purpose - Student’s Pop-Up Raises Funds for Wildfire Relief. Read article here!