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Participant Details
- Community Arts Partner Name
- Nicole Appell
- Partner Type
- Individual
- Profile Photo
- Individual Bio or
Organizational Statement
- Nicole Appell is a Seattle artist who draws inspiration from nature, world cultures, and the world around us. She works in paint, collage, mixed media, mosaic, clay, and found object assemblage.
A graduate of the University of Washington School of Art, Nicole has taught art at many local venues including the Kirkland Arts Center, the Frye Art Museum, the Henry Art Gallery, the Seattle Aquarium, University of Washington Summer Day Youth Programs, and Seattle, Lake Washington, Issaquah, and Renton Public Schools.
Grade Levels Preferred
- Grade Levels Preferred
- K-2, 3rd - 5th, 6th - 8th, 9th - 12th
Artistic Disciplines
- Discipline
- 5
- Type
- Drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, mosaic, clay, and found object assemblage
Experience
- Previous School Partnerships
- John Stanford International School, Seattle, WA, 2015 - 2018
McClure Middle School, Seattle, WA, 2010 - 2012, 2014 - 2018
John Hay Elementary School, 2007 - 2009, 2012
Lakeridge Elementary School, Renton, WA, 2014
Catharine Blaine K-8, Seattle, WA, 2014
Alki Elementary, Seattle, WA, 2012 - 2013
Robert Frost Elementary, Kirkland, WA, 2003 - 2007
- WA State TAT Lab Graduate
- No
- Other Trainings or Certifications
- Artist Trust EDGE Graduate 2006
ArtStar Training for Teaching Artists 2001
- Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies
- Sample Workshop Description: Teacher Professional Development
Areas of Experience and Expertise
- Approved Professional Development Provider
- 1
- Approved Classroom Residency Provider
- Yes
Lesson Plan
- Integrated Art
- Cultural Art
Teaching Approach
- Teaching Philosophy + Approach
- My philosophy centers around a “no mistakes” approach to teaching art, as there are a multitude of approaches to art-making, with many answers to every challenge. Of course, stray marks and unintentional drips and “blobs” are going to happen. However, my goal is to empower the students to work through those challenges, by working with that little “blob” or stray mark as opposed to starting over or giving up. No one will know when the artwork is finished that one mark was not intentional. It is in this way that I teach art as an act of joyful expression and playful exploration that helps students to relax, to find beauty in imperfection, and to enjoy the creative process.
- Curriculum Integration Possibilities
- Language Arts, Social studies, History, Science, Math
- Special Skills and Areas of Expertise
- Youth-at-risk, ELL, Special Education students, professional development with K-12 teachers
- Testimonials from Schools
- Leslie Rome-Nagata, Program Coordinator at University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education Programs
206.406.7272, lromenagata@PCE.UW.EDU
Jessica Calabrese Granger, Principal at Lakeridge Elementary
425.204.4100, jessica.calabrese@rentonschools.us
Images
- Image
- Image Description
- Glass and ceramic mosaic column at Lakeridge Elementary, Renton, WA. Through a drawing, painting, collage, and ceramics series, students created the imagery for the design, and the ceramic pieces which were incorporated into the mosaic.
- Image
- Image Description
- Ceramic tile installation at Cougar Ridge Elementary, Issaquah, WA. Students grades K - 5 created ceramic tiles featuring "patterns in nature" to be installed in the school hallway.
- Image
- Image Description
- Clay and mixed media characters. A visual arts series linked with Language Arts in a 5th grade class at Adams Elementary, Seattle, WA.
- Image
- Image Description
- Reverse painting technique on plexiglass with Sharpies and acrylics. A self-portrait installation with 7th grade students at McClure Middle School, Seattle, WA.
- Image
- Image Description
- Recycled robots. A found object/assemblage lesson in 3-d sculpture. Working with tin cans, old door knobs, old shower heads, cords, and wires, etc. students created a "robot" inspired by cast-off items from the recycle bin.