From Substitute Teacher to Master Artist: James Andrews on the Importance of Skills-Based Art Education
No matter where you imagine yourself headed, life is a wild adventure. We make the best choices we can, heading where we think we are “supposed” to go, until suddenly circumstances force us to pivot sideways and nothing looks at all like what we envisioned for ourselves.
We often look at other artists, or any expert in their field for that matter, and make assumptions of how they got there and how their trajectory must be so different from our own. And while everyone’s journey is certainly unique, upon a closer look I think we would see the common thread that almost none of us have ended up where we would expect. In my talk with professional artist, James Andrews, I was both surprised and edified by the fact that his path from amateur to professional had as many twists and turns as any of us.
Would you believe me if I told you that at one point, James was a substitute history teacher? How about if I told you he turned down an internship at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City to further pursue that career in teaching?
From Fine Arts to Theatrical Design: Following His Passion
James Andrews went into art school after graduating high school as any aspiring young artist would, but decided early on to march to the beat of his own drum. He craved practical skills and a focus on fundamentals, leading him to switch paths and pursue theatrical design. His new direction in education seemed to lead him on the right path—it was energetic, built his fine art skillset to a new level, and taught him to work quickly.
“They weren't doing real art. It was a lot of, you know, color field theory. Not to offend any of the color field people out there. But there was a lot of like, ‘Whatever you want to do is art, man!’ You know, like… No, it's actually skills. And that has to be there. There are some rules to this that you have to know before you can break them. And so, I went into the theater department because that's where they were teaching those skills and there was actual draftsmanship being taught.”
But another calling was waiting offstage, ready to take center when he least expected it. To make ends meet while working toward his arts degree, James began working as a substitute teacher in his free time. The subject he covered? History.
Reaching the pinnacle moment when education meets career, James was offered an internship at the unparalleled Metropolitan Opera House. Can the path ever be so simple? At this time, James had also reached the maximum hours allowed to substitute teach without further certification. He would have to either move on from that reliable and enjoyable income source, or pause his internship plans to obtain further training in education. He decided on the latter.
Once back on the substitute circuit, James reached yet another crossroads—continue earning side income as a substitute teacher while staying on his initial career track into theater arts, or seek even further endorsement to enter into full-time teaching? Surprisingly, he took his cue and exited the stage, literally and figuratively. Don’t worry, history was way too boring of a subject for him and he stuck with his passion for art, even in this new path.
“And so now I've kind of come full circle now over here at North Kitsap High School. I'm a pottery sculpture teacher. So that's the bulk of my day. I've got students that this is their first class ever with clay, and they're doing life size self portraits. They get a little wide-eyed when you start telling them, like, ‘Yeah you're gonna do this!’ You know, it's like, ‘That's too much! You're expecting too much of us!’ I tell them, ‘You just have half the faith in yourself that I have in you, you're gonna be just fine.’”
Inspired by his response, we talked more about teaching this age group and how pivotal his style of teaching is for their future. He offers plenty of encouragement and words of wisdom to guide his students on the path to success. His most important piece of advice? Picked up from one of his instructors at the Florence Academy of Art:
“Make It Beautiful. If it's worth putting there, if it's there, then make it beautiful. Don't just throw this little thing away. If it's de-emphasized, then it's de-emphasized by your choice to make it beautiful, right? You're making a choice to make the overall thing a better communication of the beauty that you want to put out there.”
Skills-Based Learning: Art as a Discipline
While encouragement alone is helpful, he doesn’t stop there. James finds it extremely important to grade his students’ work based on their own growth and skill level, rather than a single gauge of unattainable perfection.
“It's really important just to show kids that they're going to be treated fairly. That there's no such thing as talent, there's only levels of training… It's a set of skills, like any other set of skills. If you can learn how to do algebra, you can learn how to do art."
James' core belief in art education centers on a skills-based approach. He emphasizes the importance of practice, perseverance, and building a strong foundation of technical skills. He encourages his students to view art as a discipline, requiring dedication and a willingness to learn.
“Because they're coming to me with different levels of background in art, and they're coming to me with different levels of fear, different levels of perfectionism… Swim in your lane. You're not being judged by the person next to you and what they're producing. You're being judged by the requirements of this assignment, and how you're doing based on where you started. Have you met those requirements to the best of your ability?”
Now that James is also teaching adults, I asked how that can differ and if it is easier. Turns out, it’s not. He shared that art education in adults can bring about the very same identity crises that he sees in his younger students. The challenge in teaching anyone at any age is getting them to allow themselves to be taught.
“I always tell them, ‘The more you see yourself as an artist coming into this, the harder it's going to be for you. Because if you see yourself as an artist, that's your whole identity. And we're teaching you new stuff. You have to give yourself over to that instruction for that time period and just say, ‘Okay, I'm abandoning what I do and adopting this person's methods for this time. And I might find something that I can incorporate into who I am as an artist through that.’”
As an ongoing student himself, he practices what he preaches. James just recently returned from a life changing educational experience in Florence, Italy, achieving his Masters in Atelier Studio Arts. It certainly wasn’t easy to achieve either, considering he enrolled just before the start of the pandemic. Everything was transitioned to virtual learning rather than in-person training. For years, he spent hours-a-day doing his studio work and participating in feedback and critiques through his computer, until finally his class received the option to complete their degree on-site in Venice.
“So yeah, six weeks in Florence drawing and painting, you know, among some of the greatest art of all time. And so we would work eight or nine hours a day in the studio, and then we'd go around town and look at stuff. On the weekends we would hop a train and go to Rome or go to Venice or Verona or wherever to look at more art and just soak it all in.”
Making Art: A Form of Communication
We went on to discuss specific skill sets he added to his repertoire throughout the program, like learning to slow down while painting to improve accuracy and save time fixing the perspective and proportion of a piece later on. But to focus only on the skill sets learned and not the mindsets shifted would be tragically shortsighted.“That's why we do this, right? Every work of art is a flair sent up to the rest of humanity. To say, do you see me and do you agree? Do we make that connection? Do we both find this thing beautiful? I tell my students all the time, ‘Who cares?’ And, ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Why is this important?’ ‘Why should they care? Why do you care?’”
James believes that art serves as a form of communication, a way to connect with others and share beauty. He encourages his students to find their own voice and express themselves through their art.
“You know, if you don't have something to say, then it's not art. And that thing to say might just be, ‘This beautiful to me. And so much so that I needed to share it with you.’ It can be as simple a message as that. But it has to say something. If it's just a picture, well, then you go take your phone out and take a snap. Right? If you're just recording something, then you're just recording something. But if you're making art, then you're saying something. If you're not saying something, you're not making art.”
Finding Balance: Prioritizing Your Passions
Moved by his wisdom and experience, the dedication of time necessary to reach these conclusions and achievements was not lost on me. Wondering how this non-ancient-mage could possibly have all of this knowledge and experience to share with us, I asked James about his task balance and time management. His answer wasn’t necessarily surprising, but even so it may not be what you expect for a person who has accomplished so much.“Sometimes I found that my principles and my priorities clashed. Not clashed, but competed. There's just 24 hours in the day. And your priorities—if you ask anyone, well, what's your number one priority?”
Much like the push and pull of balancing color and value in a painting, so we must also balance the demands and passions of everyday life. As a painter, public school teacher, fine arts instructor, and father of two teenage girls, James understands the “art of real life,” better than most. He acknowledges the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing your well-being. He encourages listeners to reflect on their values and make decisions that align with those principles.
“Everything you add on there to your plate, make sure you are seeking balance for your life, for your soul. Because something's gonna break somewhere, you know? And sometimes the universe steps in and causes the break for you. It just decides, ‘Hey, you know what? Cancer!’ That's the universe telling you to slow down. For some people, it's a massive heart attack. That's just the universe saying, ‘You know? You're gonna have to sit there for a little bit. Let some other people take care of you for a little bit.’”
As a multi-passionate working parent myself, I especially appreciated this insight. It’s refreshing to see someone self-aware enough to lay bare that there are consequences to letting our boundaries slip; or not intentionally setting boundaries to begin with. So what happens when those consequences square up with you? Well, for James, it’s important not to spend too much time dwelling on the past or what could have gone differently.
“Learn who you are and what your principles are, and make your decisions based on that, and then let the chips fall where they may. Don't spend your time looking back, saying, ‘You know I should have done it this way or that way.’ Don't spend time worrying too much about what you're going to do down the road, or who you're going to be down the road, because that's a waste of time. That's a waste of now.”
Looking Forward: Embracing New Challenges
James is certainly not a person to waste time looking back. Since Black Barn Fine Art Studio’s Grand Opening in January, he is already facilitating figure drawing, leading a four week intro to Classical Drawing workshop, and also has plans for an in-depth Summer Masters Academy with long-time-colleague and friend Derek Gundy. To top it all, in January James was named “National Secondary Art Educator of the Year.”
My hope is that this conversation with James truly emboldens you to meditate on your principles and priorities, and pursue what really enlivens you—even if it’s not the original path that’s been laid out for you. When we jump into a new arena to master fresh skills and hone in on our expertise, let’s not look over our shoulder at what our neighbor is doing but only compare our results today to where we were yesterday.
