Arts on the Park |

Monday Art Classes

By Maegan Carroll

Art has the ability to play an important role in the life of a child or teen. Art teachers are often a strong influence in the lives of their students. Melanie Carroll is an elementary through high school art teacher who has a heart for encouraging creativity in the children and teens she teaches.

Melanie Carroll has been teaching art for over a decade. Melanie, like most artists, has had an interest in art since a very early age. “The first time I had an art class that really encouraged me was in middle school,” said Melanie. “We didn’t have art classes at our school, so a very sweet lady in the community volunteered to come and teach classes one day a week. I learned a lot from her and will never forget how encouraging she was. I also had a great teacher in high school that encouraged me to pursue an art degree in college.”

Melanie Carroll assisting a student.

Melanie’s desires weren’t always to be a teacher. “I didn’t really know that this [teaching art] is what God had planned for me,” says Melanie, “I did love all my art teachers over the years and I think that may be what has instilled that foundation of teaching in me. They made a big difference in my life, and I hope that I am making a difference in my students life as well”

After college, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Fine Art, she wanted to pursue a career in advertising, and held a few jobs in that field. However, Melanie states, “Once I started a family, my desires changed and I wanted to stay home with my children instead of pursuing a career. I ended up homeschooling my two children.”

Melanie Carroll’s high school art class.

While taking the role of a homeschool mom, Melanie discovered the need for Art education in the homeschool community. She then started teaching art to homeschool students, and her teaching grew from there.

Melanie’s first position teaching art was a volunteer job at a local “umbrella” private school that her own children attended. Here she was the Art Director, and oversaw other teachers who were also volunteers. Melanie accomplished much as the Art Director for the group. “I encouraged the students to enter competitions and for the first time in the school’s history, our students made it to the national level and competed against other private schools.”

Melanie Carroll and a few of her elementary art students.

After leaving the school, because her own children found interest elsewhere, several of the parents of homeschool students that attended the private school offered to pay Melanie for art lessons for their children. Upon seeing the need for Art education in the homeschool community, Melanie decided to start her own classes. She started out renting space from Arts on the Park Gallery in Lakeland, Fl. When Arts on the Park closed, Melanie found classroom space where she currently teaches at Hobby Lobby.

Melanie believes that creativity is important for everyone. Her desire for teaching and encouraging creativity in children and teens comes from her belief that “God has instilled in us the ability and need to create.”

Melanie Carroll in front of student’s work on display at the Platform Art Kid’s show.

It is obvious that Melanie enjoys what she does. Teaching art classes has impacted her life and also her student’s. Encouragement in art can have such a boost towards a child’s confidence. She says that having the ability to encourage students to be creative is what she loves most about being an art teacher.

“I love to see a student that starts out with no confidence, proudly show off their completed work. I love to see the smile and look on a child’s face when they realize that they can do anything they set their mind to,” says Melanie. “I have so many great memories. Not only watching my students, but also teaching art to my own two children and watching them grow in their abilities as artists. I think the best part of teaching is seeing how all my students will take an assignment and make it their own. I can have a dozen students in one class and everyone will add their own style and each work of art will look a little different. I love when a student finds their own style and embraces that. Encouraging a reluctant student and seeing them grow and become confident is the best feeling, and the reason that I love teaching.”