No Walls For The Small

Painter, jewelry designer, and mixed media artist...meet Andrea Adair Lasserre.  She has devoted her adult life to sharing her skills as an artist with children and adults alike as a teacher and mentor.  I think art teachers in particular have a unique perspective on children and how their psyches develop.  They open little minds by giving them the tools to express their imagination in a variety of mediums...and imagination is what makes us exceptional animals, don't you think?

1. You have worked with kids in the arts for over a decade.  In your expert opinion, how do you see art as a positive tool in shaping children's lives?
Art gives children an outlet to channel both positive and negative energy.  It also shows them alternative ways of viewing the world around them.

2.  When did you know you were an artist?  How was that part of your self nurtured (or not) during your childhood?
I knew I was passionate about the arts by age 8.  I was comfortable calling myself an artist at age 17.  I surrounded myself with art when I was a child.  At 8, I had my easel, my sewing machine, and a wood burner set up in stations around my bedroom.  I also wrote poetry and loved music.  In retrospect as a child of a single parent household, the art was a very strong part of my self nurturing.

3.  You are a Big Sister, and in Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Tell us a little about the program and how it has changed your life.
I am the luckiest lady alive to have been matched with such an awesome "little."  Her mother has been deployed in the Air Force medic training since school began and she (my little) holds her high, there is not a bit of "poor me" in her step.  She's made honor roll, joined a tennis team, and she is super involved with church.  She has changed my life by helping me keep things in perspective.

4.  As an art teacher, what advice do you have to parents out there to help encourage their children to be creative thinkers?
Creativity is everywhere and in everything we do.  I would start with a sketchbook/journal.  Also, keeping a library of arts oriented books and creating an art"station" somewhere in the home is always helpful in encouraging creativity.

5.  You work in a variety of mediums...a very versatile artist.  Which is your favorite and why?
That is a toughy- I paint, I sew,  I work in metal smithing...I think my favorite would have to be the metals (probably because it is still new to me).  I love it because the concept of pulling the gems out of the earth and bringing them full circle from a jagged looking stone to a beautiful piece of jewelry is amazing to me.

You can see some of Andreas fabulous jewelry, clothing and inspiring artwork at her Etsy.com shop Adair-Lasserre.  Stop by for a visit...I think you will enjoy it!

I still remember my kindergarten teacher.  This is probably because her name was Mrs. Shanky...which made for some terrible playground rhymes!  Kindergarten is the first experience most of us have in a structured learning environment, and we have a lot to learn from the professionals who teach the littlest students.  Michelle Poussin, artist, crafter and kindergarten teacher. She is a person who day in day out witnesses the awesome freshness of youngsters, while maintaining a thriving creative life as well.  I thought she might have a few things to teach us...enjoy!

1.Tell us a little bit about how Magnolia Designs, your Etsy.com shop, came about.
Magnolia Designs came out of an idea I have always had for a boutique shop for children.  I chose the magnolia flower because of its beauty and uniqueness.  I have always been a doodler and have sketches from back in junior high school!  I always knew I would make my own products someday and my main inspiration for that is my mother.  She is a very crafty lady, and the bug bit me at a young age. 

2.  You work with kindergartners, which is such an awesome age for human beings!  What about your students do you find the most inspiring?  
I am inspired a lot by my students.  Kids know what they like and they will be honest about it!  I love how innocent, full of life, and honest my students can be.  They are so young, yet have so much knowledge of the world around them.  Their future is what inspires me to do what I do everyday.  They are not afraid to be creative or make mistakes, which a lot of us adults could take a lesson from. I encourage them through art, dance, music, and recycling products into new ones instead of just ‘throwing everything away’ like so many people do these days.

3.  Working with younger children, in your opinion what are the most pressing obstacles that they face today?
The biggest obstacle that children face today is all of the technology available to them.  They are not challenged to be creative, play outside, TALK to people to make new friends, or just be social in general.  This generation is being brought up in a very different society than all of us were when we were children.  We have become a society of convenience and this is reflecting onto the children’s behavior.  I do my best to teach my students how to communicate through many different medias, whether that be talking to each other, painting, dancing, singing, or even playing outside. 

4.  Your creative expertise is in fashion. What role do you see the fashion industry having in shaping children today?
Fashion has a huge influence on children today.  I would say that celebrities, more than the fashion industry, play a huge role in shaping children today.  Last year all of my students dressed like Hannah Montana and it has trickled into this year too.  They want to be ‘cool’ like the kids on TV or movies that they see.  I applaud the celebrities that still dress the age that they are and who do not try to be older or ‘sexier’ than they need to be as a teenager. 

5.  As a teacher and someone who spends a lot of time with a variety of children...in Las Vegas mind you! Is there any lesson they have taught you or any advice you may have for parents that only a teacher could share?

The greatest lesson that I have learned from my students is that it is ok to laugh and laugh often.  My favorite sound is children's laughter and that can brighten up any gloomy day that I am having!

The advice that I would have for parents today would be to be just that, a parent.  They look up to you as their parent and want to be just like you!