Point of View: Unlocking Creative Voices

We live in a world in which we are constantly bombarded with imagery. If youʼre interested in a certain type of art, medium, or theme, youʼll leave a trail of clicks that will assist applications in providing you with a wide range of images that might find their way into your creative process. Our role as teachers is to help students make meaningful and conscientious creative decisions that amplify their own voices.

Preventing students from appropriating art images or approaches while creating their own artwork is critical for fostering creativity, respecting intellectual property, and encouraging originality. To achieve this, a teacher must be intentional in setting the tone and creating an environment where students are exposed to a foundation of art history and contexts in which various artists, art movements, and styles are discussed.

Personal Mission
My goals as a teacher extend beyond imparting technical expertise and sharing examples to students. I strive to cultivate their unique visions, enabling them to nurture their distinctive voices.

By encouraging students to avoid thoughtless mimicry, I strive to instill in them a profound sense of engagement and exploration, which lies at the core of my passion for teaching art. Iʼve found that visual journaling is an excellent tool for steering students away from appropriation and helping them to develop their own diverse and creative approaches. I tell them that Iʼm not “Pinterest-ed” in what cool things they might find online, but Iʼm really excited to see how theyʼll channel their own individual ideas.

An Example
I had just returned from a residency in Chicago, where I had taken pictures of an interesting artistʼs work. I was excited to share this artistʼs work with my students so they could explore his ideas in their own way. The allure of showcasing his work was so strong that none of them actually looked into how they would tackle the theme; instead, they all just imitated the samples I gave.

This is the danger of showing too few examples of a given idea or approach. The wider the range of examples shown, the more likely students will triangulate their own approach and articulate their unique vision and aesthetic voice.

It takes little effort to use Google or Pinterest to find imagery and sometimes even creative expression, and the teacher must discourage students from using these resources as a substitute for their own imagination. Showing a wide range of approaches is crucial to avoiding unintentional appropriation.

Three Approaches to Encourage Individual Creative Expression
1. Set Creative Constraints
When introducing assigned projects, set specific constraints. These limits can challenge students to think creatively within defined parameters, reducing the temptation to appropriate othersʼ work. Time, materials, and color limitations are all good ways to encourage students to find liberation within limitations.

2. Share Multiple Examples
A diverse range of approaches encourages students to grasp the concept and still explore their own inspiration. Discuss the importance of diversity in artistic sources and inspirations to help them develop a unique artistic voice.

3. Encourage Personal Narratives
Encourage students to infuse their personal experiences, emotions, and narratives into their sketchbook work. This fosters a personal connection to authentic and original image-making.

Closing Thoughts
Teaching students to cultivate their own ideas through visual journaling encourages them trust their own imagery and concepts and helps them avoid the quick and easy trap of plagiarizing when they hit a creative block. I ask them to go back to their visual journals for imagery and ideas when they get stuck.

When we encourage students to focus on the creative process rather than the end result, they experience the value of experimentation, exploration, and personal expression in art-making. In our classroom environments, we need to promote a culture of creativity, respect, and originality.

Remember that youʼre a role model and you should create original artwork and share your creative process with students. Demonstrating your commitment to authenticity and originality can inspire them to do the same.