Mr. Nisbet has been my high school art teacher for the last three years. He has taught me about making art, about being an artist, and about life. I am forever grateful to him for his support. My art classes have been rewarding and mindful spaces where I have grown tremendously as an artist and as a student. Mr. Nisbet has shared his wisdom with me and has taught me the importance of art education not only for myself, but for our community and beyond.
When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in art?
I come from a family of teachers. My mom is still a high school teacher. My aunts and uncles were teachers growing up, so I was surrounded by educators in my family.
I always loved art, and I think I first knew I wanted to teach art when I was in middle school. It was something that always felt natural to me. I was never really pushed to consider other careers, and I never strongly felt like I wanted to do something else.
What did your school do to cultivate your interest in art?
I had great art teachers growing up. I went to public school in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The way schools are funded in Texas is largely through local taxes, so the schools in that area were fairly well funded.
I had a really strong middle school art teacher, especially during the seventh and eighth grades. We didn’t have art year-round in middle school, but beginning in ninth grade I had art every year as a full-year class.
In ninth grade we had a pre-AP art program, and I even earned some college credit. Unlike students at schools like Rivers, I didn’t think a lot about college at the time. I just thought that I wanted to be an artist and kept things simple. I also spent a lot of time playing sports.
One thing that was really influential was that my teacher would invite former students who were studying art in college to come back and talk with us. They would show us their portfolios and talk about the projects they were working on in college. I always found that to be really inspiring.
What do you think has been the biggest benefit to you of pursuing a career in art?
One of the biggest benefits is that I get to make art every day. I am able to work with students in an art studio environment on a daily basis.
Even students who think they “can’t draw” discover a lot about themselves in the art studio. It’s not just about making art. Think about the patience it takes to practice drawing and the thinking that goes into the process.
Students also have to share their work and reflect on it. There are many great takeaways from that experience. Art forces students to slow down and focus on something carefully, which can be really valuable.
How do you think Rivers does with art education? Do you think there is enough emphasis on art?
I think Rivers does a pretty good job overall. There is somewhat of a visual arts presence here, although the music program is particularly strong. We also have theater.
Personally, I would like to see more of an art requirement. Right now students only need two years of art. We tend to lose many upperclassmen because students would rather take a free period instead of an art class.
However, I think taking an art class is actually very beneficial, especially for students who are stressed about school and college applications. Art classes provide a space where students can slow down, quiet their minds, and focus on something creative.
Instead of spending a free period scrolling on their phones or constantly grinding through schoolwork, an art class allows students to shift into a different way of thinking. It gives them an opportunity to lose track of time and focus creatively, which is really healthy.
In your ideal situation, how many years of art would students take?
In my dream world, students would have four years of art as a requirement. In a more realistic version, I think three years of required art would be great.
That would still leave time for students to choose other electives or have a free period if they wanted. I really don’t see any drawbacks to having more art in the curriculum. I think there are only benefits.
Do you think funding for the arts is as important as funding for sports?
Funding can vary a lot depending on the community. Schools in wealthier communities usually have better funding than schools in poorer communities.
In general, sports tend to get a lot more attention, energy, and participation than the arts. Because of that, arts programs are often the first things to be cut when schools face budget problems.
For example, in the Franklin school system, students only have art once a week. At least they still have it, but it’s very limited. Sometimes art teachers even have to travel between multiple schools, which makes it difficult to maintain strong programs.
How concerned are you about cuts in funding for the arts in schools?
I’m definitely concerned. I wish there was more consistent support for arts education because it is so beneficial for young and adolescent minds.
The art studio can be a very calming environment. It helps students manage stress and gives them a space that is quiet and reflective. At the same time, it’s also a social environment where students can talk, share ideas, and express themselves.
For example, students might discuss current events while they are making art. It becomes a place where students can feel more like their authentic selves because self-expression is such a central part of art-making.
