a space to call our own

I am oh-so excited to dive into my new classroom, and I'm committed to being intentional about the space I'm creating, trying to be conscious about the things I bring in.  As a firm believer in the idea that the environment influences the work we make, I've spent the past two years daydreaming about my ideal classroom: a safe place to share ideas and visions; a place that nurtures the individual voice; full of images and objects that inspire and are themselves inspired.  And now, I actually get to put my dreams into action!

I know what I don't want: cheap poster reproductions of old-dead-white-guy paintings, or run-of-the-mill teacher posters that say things like "Hang in There!" or "You can do it!"  Who finds these things inspiring or motivating? Anyone, ever?

So keeping what I don't want in mind, this afternoon I indulged and bought these two babies to hang in my classroom:

I picked these up on etsy from California-based illustrator Emily McDowell - check out her goods and get your own at her shop.  I can't wait to get them in the mail and frame them up in color!

Other ideas: succulents and my Kachina collection for interesting still life, "Ms. Howard's Library of Wonders" full of all my best and favorite art books, a big wall devoted to critique and display, one of my own large paintings-in-progress (I think it's important for my students to see me keeping up a professional studio practice), and a few other inspirational goodies I'm cooking up that I'll share as soon as they're finished.

Until then!