April 19 - May 14, 2011

Reception April 19, 4:30 - 6:00 pm

La Veta Art Teacher

Amber Smelser

Amber attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley majoring in visual arts education with emphasis in ceramics. She greatly enjoys wheel throwing and hand building with clay. In addition Amber minored in Special Education and plans to get her masters in SPED. Amber did her student teaching in Platte Valley under Jason Rydgren, who is a great artist and teacher. He inspired a lot of her teaching philosophies.  "I feel that the art classroom is a place for learning and creativity to take place, and it is my job as a teacher to cause such things to happen. Student artists need to connect with a style that is personal to them." Amber has attended classes where the teacher shows through the students, and tries to stay away from pushing the students, but hopes that she is able to influence them and help stir up individual creativity.

 "I have enjoyed art since I was very young, my grandfather was an artist that I admired, he worked a lot with print making which is another medium I enjoy working with. I have known I wanted to be an art teacher my entire life. I had tremendous experiences in High School with art teachers that I looked up too, and a family that was very supportive of my goals. Where I am today and the people I encounter in the art and education world, I hope to learn from and grow into the person and educator I will become. "