Artist Profile: Melanie Carroll

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.”

Photography Exhibit Opens the Door for Visual Arts at Southeastern University

By Maegan Carroll

Craig Collins, Dean of the College of Arts and Media at Southeastern University, believes that as Christians “we’re all called to create.”

Currently, Southeastern University is working toward broadening their involvement in the visual arts, and providing students with more opportunities to grow creatively.

On December 4, 2014 faculty members of the College of Arts and Media began hanging up a selection of student photography on the walls of Bolin Hall in order to prepare for the first visual arts exhibit at SEU.

26 pieces were chosen for the exhibit from 13 different students. Pieces were chosen based on their artistic elements, such as composition, color, and contrast. Chad Neuman and Jon Seals were responsible for choosing which photos were to be displayed.

At the exhibit’s opening show December 5, 2014, three cash awards were given.

• Best in Show: Kristine Diaz Coffman – Black Beauty
• Second Place: Elisabeth Huijskens – Taylor
• Third Place: Phil Perry – Lambs Like Lions

Each piece was judged by Claire Orologas, executive director of the Polk Museum of Art.

The theme for the exhibit was created by Dr. Craig Collins, the Dean of The College of Arts and Media, and Dr. Chad Neuman, Chair of the Communication Department.

After going over a few ideas Inspirations: Local Perspectives was the theme that was decided upon.

“Collins, and I talked about some themes and he proposed this theme and I thought it was a great idea for a first photo exhibit,” said Neuman.

Collins wanted to choose a theme that was applicable to the students of SEU.

Local Perspectives inspired students to photograph places where they felt at home. Some of the students photographed mission fields, others photographed their home towns. Some photographed Lakeland, Florida, where SEU is located.

This particular exhibit is the first of it’s kind to take place at SEU and has opened the door for visual arts.

Neuman states “The photography exhibit promotes students’ work and raises awareness of the arts.”

“It’s the beginning of something extraordinary. I believe providing students the opportunity to have a voice in the creative process and a platform to share their work is an asset to any institution,” says Collins. “Specifically at SEU, the visual arts is simply another venue to assist students in finding the intersection of God’s plan and their creative selves.”

In Fall of 2013 Southeastern University welcomed graphic design students into a new degree offered within the College of Arts and Media. This department has grown substantially within the last two years.

Southeastern University is continuing the building of fine arts courses for the benefit of students.

SEU will host their second photography exhibit themed Art Moves in Bolin Hall April 10, 2015. This particular theme will inspire students to capture subjects that show physical motion or even create motion through the feelings that are evoked by the subject.

Beginning Fall of 2015 there will be an addition of multiple visual arts classes. Drawing I and II, Painting I and II, Typography, Color Theory, and gallery exhibitions will all be available in the coming semester.

“There are many students requesting painting and drawing and my hope is that SEU, whether majors in Graphic Design or not, will take advantage of these courses,” says Collins. “We’re all called to create – and whether we’re finding the best perspective in shooting a photo, designing something in another field, or simply problem-solving to find the best solution in business – they all typify opportunities to create.”