StudioGnome
Art Lessons, Workshops, & Home School
Contact Emily to book your Creative Play workshop today with friends at emily@studiognome.com
EDUCATION
Virginia Commonwealth University
Masters of Art Education
Graduated May 2016
James Madison University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Graduated May 2005
CERTIFICATION
Professional Teacher's License, NH
Professional Teacher's License, VA
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High, Art Educator
Wilton, NH / Fall 2019 - Present
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Public school art educator for grades 6-12
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Program focuses on fostering youth's inherent creative expression through exercises of experimental abstract expressionism that build up a foundation for technical artistic skill sets in 2D and 3D art as well as digital art
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Peter Paul Development Center, Art Educator
Richmond, VA / Fall 2018 - Summer 2019
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Art educator for 4 school locations of PPDC, 10 classes/week
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Designed and pitched an organization-wide art program for grades 2-7th grade, and set schedule with classroom teachers
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Program focuses on mindfulness of self, energy & expression
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Peter Paul Development Center, Elementary Educator
Richmond, VA / Winter 2016 - Spring 2018
​Lead elementary after school teacher for 3rd and 4th grade. Teaching a strictly academic, yet creative choice-based pedagogy where homework completion is a top priority. Amidst reading, writing, and math practice, the students work on a monthly arts integrated project.
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Earth & Sky Summer English Camp, Visiting ESL Teacher
Prague, Czech Republic / Summer 2018
Co-designed and taught a week of integrated English lessons to local children ages 5-9 years in a summer school program at Rosteto: a babusarium garden. Art lessons investigated nature, yoga, and the senses.
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Play Tectonics, Brand Rep. and Education Advocate
Richmond, VA / Summer 2017 - Summer 2019
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An integral motivator for the new ideas and energy that has expanded the brand and strategy of Play Tectonics including visual communications of and their new blog, PathwayToPlay.org.
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Advocates for play language in educational settings through own pedagogical practices that support critical inquiry and student-centered learning via paper puppetry media.
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Catapult Tutoring, Elementary Reading and Math Tutor
Richmond, VA / January 2017-May 2018
Designed and taught mini lessons and tutored at Swansboro Elementary School, as well as 13 Acres elementary School, by way of in class help, small groups and one-on-one.
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Peter Paul Development Center, Art & Literacy Educator
Richmond, VA / Summer 2017
​Designed and led a full time summer arts and literacy program for grades 2nd-8th that involved hands on experiential projects created around the book James and the Giant Peach.
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John Marshall High School, Grad Student Teacher
Richmond, VA / Spring 2016
Designed and taught 2 meaningful units that include a focus of intention within the ancient Chinese culture of ink painting and contemporary abstract art, and for Art 1 and 2, and an exploration of connections in fiber art for Art 3/4.
Greenwood Elementary School, Grad Student Teacher
Glen Allen, VA / Spring 2016
Designed and taught 6 meaningful units to K-5th grade that include storytime for kindergarten, textural worlds for 1st, personal strengths for 2nd, heroes for 3rd, humans in nature for 4th and reinventing discarded objects for 5th.
Thomas Jefferson High School, Grad Student Experience
Richmond, VA / Fall 2015
Co-designed and taught an arts-integrated unit in a 9th grade English class that investigates a theme, The Danger of a Single Story. Art and literary criticism are interlaced into practice of unpacking descriptive and objective language.
Binford Middle School, Grad Student Experience
Richmond, VA / Spring 2015
Designed and taught an arts-integrated curriculum in a civics classroom with the unit theme, Artist as Critical Citizen by investigating what it means to be a critical citizen through practice of art criticism and creative inquiry of their own ideas and beliefs.
Art 180, Program Designer and Lead Teacher
St. Joseph’s Villa, Richmond, VA / Summer 2015
Designed and taught a 12-wk program to children ages 12-18.
The unit Reinvent, inspired students to re-invent both themselves and discarded objects.
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Abriendo Mentes, Visiting Teacher
Potrero, Costa Rica / Spring 2015
Co-designed and taught a week of arts-integrated English lessons to local children ages 4-10 years old in an after school program. Lessons investigated nature and narrative.
Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, Volunteer Art Teacher
Richmond, VA / January - August 2014
Designed and taught art lessons within a behavioral needs school, teaching activities that stimulate a deep exploration of various materials alongside art criticism practices. These include simpler craft activities such as cupcake design, paper beads, sock puppets, and face painting.
Maymont Elementary School, Elementary Practicum Teacher
Richmond, VA / Fall 2013
Designed and taught various art lessons within
a special needs classroom including activities that specifically stimulate exploration of the senses.
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Hopkins Elementary School, Elementary Practicum Teacher
Richmond, VA / Fall 2013
Designed and implemented 2 lessons with young students that explore emotional expression through watercolor and application with various tools.
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Richmond Waldorf School, Aftercare Assistant Teacher
Richmond, VA / 2012 - 2013
Provides after-school care for children ages 3-12 years old, and facilitated creative activities.
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Richmond Waldorf School, Summer Arts Program Lead Teacher
Richmond, VA / Summer 2013
Designed and taught 3 one week art programs that explored both indoor and outdoor lessons.
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TEACHING SKILLS
Creating a safe space for humans of all ages that is presented in a joyful way for the necessary creative experimentations and risk-takings of self expression. Present, patient, open-minded and sensitive to the multi-faceted needs of the vulnerable learning space that seeks to provide exploration of various modes and materials.
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ART AND DESIGN SKILLS
Technically skilled in the following traditional art media: ink, graphite pencil, pastels, acrylics and oils paints, watercolors, needle felt, paper mache, clay, discarded objects, natural found materials, simple book binding, and simple print relief processes.
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20 years professional digital experience as a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer, videographer and animator. Proficient in the following software: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and Cinema 4D.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Ruth Hibbs Hyland Scholarship Award
VCU/ Spring 2016
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National Art Education Association Convention, Presenter
San Diego, CA / 2014
Sunday Session: A Waldorf Nature Table exploring local nature technologically evolves for further learning and online sharing. The lecture will inform how a Waldorf Nature Table evolves with technology by using a turntable, an iPad, and Arqspin to capture a 360° video for learning and sharing online.
Art 180, Intern for MAE independent study program
Richmond, VA / Fall 2012
Co-designed, directed, and set up the opening
First Friday’s exhibit in Art 180’s new location.
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EDUCATOR CERTIFICATIONS
Natural Connections
Lewis Ginter / Richmond, VA / Spring 2013
Taught by Lewis Ginter staff and the Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) with visiting guests
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The Sabot Institute
Sabot School / Richmond, VA / Spring 2013
Personal Pathways and Paradigms
Taught by The Sabot School staff
Comix and Zines
VCU / Richmond, VA / Spring 2013
Taught by art educator, Olvia Gude
Southeast Regional Waldorf Gathering
Emerson Waldorf School, Chapel Hill, NC / 2012
Taught by educator Karen Smith
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ARTWORK EXHIBITIONS
3D Experiences
VCU Art Ed., Richmond, VA / Fall 2015
Group Art Show
Gallery 5 / Richmond, VA / Spring 2013
Group Art Show
Crittenden Studio Richmond, VA / Spring 2006
Solo Show, “Flat Squirrels Prevail”
The Artful Dodger / Harrisonburg, VA / Spring 2004
DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCE
Creature Theater, Owner and Director
Richmond, VA / Summer 2015 - Summer 2017
Designed, directed and implemented a public art education model that teaches with puppets in urban settings through
the collaboration of local community members.
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ART 180, Communications Manager (& mentored interns)
Richmond, VA / Spring 2016- October 2016
Manages, strategizes and creates copy and visual material for all communications platforms including press releases, video, photography, social media, video, and other methods in order to communicate brand develop mission.
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VisualResearch, Art Director (& mentored interns)
Richmond, VA / Winter 2013- Winter 2015
Manages and creates various client projects that include working with data analysts to create info-graphics, videos, and brand development.
Media General, Broadcast Designer (& mentored interns)
Richmond, VA / 2007- 2012
Concept designed and created motion and still graphics for broadcast and marketing strategies. Video and commercial concept, design and editing for syndicated.
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Crittenden Studio, Designer and Assistant (& mentored interns)
Richmond, VA / 2005- 2007
Established identity concepts & web design for clients that include editing photos for commercial, portrait, and product photography. Assisted in photographing commercial and studio shoots. Maintained designs of company promotional material.
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