Mrs. Carlson is an art teacher at Verrado High School who teaches Fundamental Art, Drawing and Painting I, and Drawing and Painting II—three progressive levels of art classes that students may choose to take. Her classes run both semesters, and they are so popular that there is often a line of students hoping to enroll.
One of the unique aspects of Mrs. Carlson’s classroom is the environment she creates. On nice days, she opens a large, garage-style door, allowing students to work with natural sunlight—or even the sound of rain—enhancing the overall aesthetic and creating an inspiring atmosphere for creativity.
During class, Mrs. Carlson begins by explaining the project requirements and demonstrating techniques. Once students understand the expectations, she gives them the freedom to be creative and interpret the assignment in their own way. As students work, she walks around the room offering encouragement, answering questions, giving advice, and sometimes even creating her own artwork alongside her students. This approach fosters an inclusive and supportive classroom environment where students feel safe expressing themselves and letting their creativity flow.
When Macy Hartung, a student from Drawing and Painting I, was asked how she liked art class, she replied, “It’s my favorite class, I really love it. I’m planning on taking it next year, too.” When asked what her favorite art project this year was, she added, “probably the Jellyfish. It was a big paper that we painted watercolor on.”
Currently, students in Mrs. Carlson’s Drawing and Painting I class are working on charcoal portraits. They spend several days practicing with different techniques, allowing them to become comfortable with the materials before creating a final, finished piece. Students are given significant creative freedom, choosing their own pose, technique, and reference image for the project.
When asked what her favorite part of teaching art was, Mrs. Carlson explained, “My favorite is seeing everyone’s creativity shine through when I give them a task or teach them a specific skill. Then I give them that freedom to do what they want, and everybody does something so totally different.” Additionally, when asked what made her love art, she responded, “I think it’s just inside of you to want to create the things that you see. When you look around and see things, you feel like you just have to create them.”
