Studio Art

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: I'm a full-time artist.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: Exponentially. Patrick Schmidt, John Lambertson, and Pat Maloney were integral in shaping my relationship to art and art history. I think back to that time and those lessons constantly.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: I currently teach art to grades 4-6 at Pine-Richland School District. This is my 9th year, but my 10th year teaching art. I truly believe that being an art student at W&J taught me to teach art rather than crafts as a teacher, and it has been more meaningful for my students with that mindset. I have not yet sought a master's, but I plan to get a Master in Fine Arts, someday.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: The W&J art department is one of the strongest rocks that I've been able to stand on during and after graduating. I continue to learn from staff and other alum that have and continue to exhibit their own work as an artist and teachers. Their own accomplishments as well as their encouragement has pushed me to share my own art and find ways to get artworks shown in galleries.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you're not directly working in the arts, do the arts play a role in your life, is so how?

A: I'm a Senior Software Engineer working on clinical trial software. While I don't have as much time as I'd like to dedicate to art, I still maintain a small studio space and paint when I can.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you after undergrad life?

A: The art program gave me a solid foundation to pursue art, even as a hobby. I also grew to appreciate forms and styles of art I may otherwise have ignored.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you after undergrad life?

A: The art department at W&J was a wonderful fit for me. Being unsure of what I wanted out of life, personally and professionally, the program allowed me to expand on how I thought about things. Being mathematically driven for the better part of my academic career, I found myself leaning on those concrete principles to solve life problems that were much more fluid. Through many discussions in the art department, I had an epiphany of sorts on thinking and was able to unlock newfound creativity in problem-solving. Art shines through in many ways, whether it be classical painting and sculpture, or in ways of thought. The W&J art department allowed me to become a better artist, problem solver, dentist, orthodontist, and most importantly a better person. Without it, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Q: If you have gone on to graduate (or post-undergrad training) school, where did you attend, and for what degree?

A: Masters of Education at Carlow University.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you're not directly working in the arts, do the arts play a role in your life, is so how?

A: I currently teach 9-12th grade art at Bridges Preparatory School in Beaufort South Carolina. This is my 11th year in the classroom. After experiencing different schools in the south, I feel like PA (or most northern schools) prepare teachers significantly better than a lot of other colleges. As for the arts, I had such a fantastic experience at WashJeff, especially being able to study in Florence...I'm incredibly grateful for my time there.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you after undergrad life?

A: I learned invaluable skills and life lessons from the W&J Art Department. Not only was I encouraged to be a well-rounded artist, my professors and peers helped shape me into the person I am today. While I was growing into my own as an artist, developing techniques, in my senior year, I decided to apply for law school. The W&J Art Department made sure that I would always be able to nurture my creative and unique spirit. I made a vow with my art professors that I would always be me, an artist, no matter what I did for a living. A few years into my career, I am happy to report that I am still marching to the beat of my own drum, no matter what everyone else is doing. I made a promise to my art mentors that I would never let anyone extinguish my creative flame.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you're not directly working in the arts, do the arts play a role in your life, is so how?

A: I am currently a Research and Sales Associate with Winston Wachter Fine Art, a gallery in Chelsea, New York.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you after undergrad life?

A: The Studio Art courses I took at W&J taught me various art-making techniques which I now apply to my work as a Sales Associate with a Contemporary gallery. It is crucial for me to understand in-depth how art is made so I can confidently communicate it to a client. The Art History courses helped develop my interest in different art movements and taught me how to write about art. This was really important in my previous role as an auction cataloguer, and I use it now when I write about exhibitions or do research on artworks for our consulting clients.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: Currently working as a mental health counselor at an outpatient clinic utilizing art therapy. It helps as a healing process for emotional expression.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: W&J really pushed me to further analyze my art and what it means to me. I was able to better connect myself to my pieces and ultimately better understand myself through the process of making art. This is especially important in my field of art therapy.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: I am currently the Assistant Director of Communications for West Virginia State University's Research & Public Service in Institute, WV (just outside of Charleston, WV). I am in charge of essentially all of the visual communications that come out of our area.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: While I was at W&J, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something in art. My advisor (Patrick Schmidt) had recommended that I take some design classes with the ITL folks because he thought I would enjoy it and be good at it. I was convinced I wasn't going to like it and wanted to stay as far away from computers as possible. Fifteen years later, I work on a computer every day to do my job and I still love every minute of it. I'm grateful that Patrick saw something in me that I did not and that he pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: I'm currently an elementary art teacher for the Trinity Area School District and I serve as the head of the district's art department. This is my eleventh year teaching in Pennsylvania's public school system. I previously spent two years teaching in Bonita Springs, Florida and I started my career in the arts as an Assistant Director for the Washington Community Arts and Cultural Center in Washington, PA in 2005.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: While enrolled as an undergraduate I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time on a trip with the art department. I experienced the opening of an incredible art installation called "The Gates" in Central Park, created by world-renowned artists Christo and Jean Claude. I traveled through galleries in Chelsea and visited the Museum of Modern Art. I frequently think of this trip as an adult and how it has influenced my pedagogy as an art educator.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: General Manager at Passionately Pets. I use my graphic design and art knowledge in our social media all the time. I also create and sell personal commissions on the side. 

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: The department is a great resource for questions plus a plethora of networking connections.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: I am the Associate Director of Business Development at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. I work in the exhibition department at the Children’s Museum and I am responsible for the management of the development, resources, and administrative needs of the traveling exhibitions program. I am also on the board for AAM NAME's (American Alliance of Museums National Association of Museum Exhibitions) professional network.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: I developed many skills beyond painting while an undergrad at W&J and many of those skills translated beautifully into my current career. Time Management: Being an art major takes a lot of time management. You need to understand how much time is needed to complete a project and then budget that time accordingly.

Q: What is your current position/title or job you hold? If you’re not directly working in the arts, do the art play a role in your life, if so how?

A: Merchandise operations assistant for United By Blue, a mission-based apparel company focused on sustainability and water clean-ups. Although my current role is more logistics and operations-focused, my degree in fine arts from W&J was a requirement to get into my master’s program and I know this foundation will be necessary again as I continue in my career and am able to get back to a creative side in a post-pandemic world.

Q: How has/did the W&J art department/program help you in your after undergrad life?

A: No matter what industry you are in, the foundation's skills taught by the W&J art department are essential for any creative/collaborative environment. Someone can have a creative mind, but understanding design theory, knowing how to use it, and being able to critically examine and criticise your work is what makes someone a professional.