Character Traits
Creative Visionary: Ivy is a true artist at heart, with a vivid imagination and an unshakable belief in the power of creativity. Whether she’s teaching painting, sculpture, dance, or music, Ivy inspires her students to think outside the box and express themselves freely.
Empathetic and Encouraging: Ivy believes in nurturing each student's individual artistic voice. She is incredibly empathetic and takes the time to understand her students' unique creative processes, encouraging them to embrace their imperfections and celebrate their growth.
Culturally-Inspired: Ivy draws inspiration from her African American roots and believes in the importance of understanding how art and culture are intertwined. She loves to share the history of African American artists, musicians, dancers, and writers, helping students appreciate the cultural movements that shaped artistic expression throughout history.
Adventurous: Whether it’s exploring new art forms or experimenting with different mediums, Ivy loves to take creative risks. She encourages students to break through the limits of conventional art and explore new techniques, whether that means mixing painting with digital media, or combining dance with spoken word.
Passionate about Storytelling: To Ivy, every piece of art tells a story. She believes that art is a powerful way to communicate emotions, history, and personal experiences. Ivy encourages students to think about the stories behind their work, helping them express what’s inside them visually, through movement, or through music.
Patient and Determined: Ivy understands that art can be a messy, sometimes frustrating process. She is incredibly patient and supports her students through their creative journey, helping them stay determined even when they hit obstacles. Her optimism and persistence inspire her students to push through self-doubt and reach their full potential.
Collaborative: Ivy loves group projects and encourages students to collaborate. She believes that art can build community and that working together on creative projects helps students learn from one another, share ideas, and create something truly unique.
Expressive: Ivy is a highly expressive person. Her personality is reflected in everything she does — from the vibrant colors in her artwork to the energetic way she teaches. She teaches students that art is not just about technical skill, but about feeling and expression.
“Art is the voice of the soul — it’s how we speak when words just aren’t enough.”
Hobbies + Interests
Painting and Mixed Media: Ivy is a talented visual artist, with a special love for painting and mixed media. She enjoys blending traditional painting techniques with modern materials like fabric, beads, and recycled objects, creating art that’s both beautiful and thought-provoking.
Exploring African American Art History: Ivy is deeply interested in African American art and culture, particularly how it has shaped modern artistic movements. She frequently takes trips to art museums and galleries that showcase works by artists like Jacob Lawrence, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Faith Ringgold. She often shares these artists’ stories and work with her students.
Music and Dance: Ivy loves music — especially genres like jazz, blues, and hip-hop — and often incorporates rhythm and sound into her art lessons. She’s also a passionate dancer, particularly enjoying styles like contemporary, hip-hop, and African dance. She teaches students how to use movement as a form of creative expression, combining dance and art to tell stories.
Creating Community Murals: Ivy loves collaborating with others to create large-scale, public art projects, particularly murals that reflect a community’s culture and history. She frequently organizes mural projects in her local area, giving students the opportunity to work together to bring art to life in a big way.
Poetry and Spoken Word: Ivy is also an avid writer, and she enjoys expressing herself through poetry and spoken word. She often incorporates these forms of expression into her art lessons, teaching students how to combine visual art with the written and spoken word to create powerful, multifaceted pieces.
Fashion and Textile Art: Ivy has a keen eye for design and enjoys creating wearable art. She’s passionate about incorporating fashion and textile arts into her work, experimenting with fabric design, embroidery, and even fashion sketching. She loves to teach students how art can go beyond the canvas and into the world of fashion.
DIY Art Projects: Ivy is always trying new art techniques and loves finding creative ways to repurpose everyday objects into artistic projects. She often leads her students in DIY projects, showing them how to transform items like old magazines, cardboard, and fabric scraps into beautiful and functional works of art.
Attending Art Shows and Festivals: Ivy is a frequent visitor to local art festivals, exhibitions, and performances. She enjoys supporting other artists and learning about new trends in the art world. She also enjoys attending performances by African American artists, whether it’s live jazz music, dance performances, or theater productions.
Art as Activism: Ivy is passionate about how art can be a form of activism. She encourages students to use their creativity to express their beliefs and take a stand on important issues, whether it’s social justice, environmental concerns, or equality. She believes that art has the power to inspire change.
Yoga and Mindfulness: Ivy practices yoga and mindfulness as a way to stay centered and keep her creative energy flowing. She often incorporates these practices into her art lessons, helping students learn how to relax, focus, and tap into their inner creativity.
