Stephanie K.

Creative Art Exploration & Bookmaking

Philadelphia

• I see faces in everything! (Look up the definition of "pareidolia" - that's me)
• I love museums & treat the Metropolitan Museum like a giant puzzle - I love looking for pieces in different parts that seem to go together.
• My handmade book "When Toast Attacks," about my former allergy to wheat, has bread covers (made out of heavily shellacked melba toast)!

I'm a certified art teacher with almost 30 years of experience who's passionate about nurturing learners' creative confidence through playful, process-focused art exploration in my laughter-filled classes! I see possibilities in everything, and emphasize how mistakes are not just part of the process of artmaking, but a creative learning opportunity. Bookmaking is my favorite art form - I've been writing and illustrating stories since i was a kid, and I was the Featured Artist at NYC's Center for Book Arts in 1995. I love teaching kids simple bookmaking and pop-up techniques - when kids make books, they want to fill them! And books can be filled with pop-ups, art, and ephemera. I also adore using open-ended art prompts, like scribble art, to ignite students’ imaginations! But no matter what art form I'm covering with learners, my approach always involves a lot of creative agency - I don't do copy-me-exactly projects. We do real skill-building through materials exploration, with lots of room to experiment. My classroom is always fun, as the kids and I feed off each others' playful creative energy. I've got my BFA in illustration & MAT in art education, and I've been leading my creative art classes for ages 4+ in numerous schools & cultural centers, including 25+ years as a contractual educator at NYC's iconic Metropolitan Museum. Along with doing after-school residencies, I currently run The Art Playspace, offering small-group art classes for kids online, and The Uncreatives, a creativity membership for adults. I'm excited to bring my love of artmaking to Togetherhood, and hope to meet your learners soon!