Marcia Randall De Bard

"painting, jewelry"

Biography

As an elementary student whose artwork was often selected for exhibition, I often heard other kids ask, "How do you make it look like that?" So I'd gather small groups together during recess and after school to show them what I knew, and guide them to make their own art. I've been teaching ever since. I have taught professionally for 20 years-preschool through adult, including Rutgers and Humboldt State Universities (and six years as the Art Specialist at Poulsbo Elementary).

In the late 1970's, I had the good fortune to study with Josef Albers, which laid the foundations for my "spin" on color theory. In the early 1990's, I wrote a ground-breaking Master's thesis linking multiple intelligences/learning styles to motivation, which laid the foundation for my "spin" on teaching.

In the late 1990's, I experienced a severe creative block in my painting. I began to make beaded jewelry, and "playing" with the gemstones' colors and textures allowed me to go around the painting block. This experience with a creative block led me to become a Certified Creativity Coach, helping others to rekindle damaged, dormant, or as-yet-undiscovered creativity. I strongly believe that every one of us is an artist, although sometimes the artist self has become dormant from fear or lack of use.

So, true to my first calling in life, I draw and paint and make jewelry in my studio by the Puget Sound. And, true to my lifelong desire to share what I know, I teach art to children and adults, and coach adults to get back on track with their creative work; to take their dreams and goals to the next level.

My affiliations include the Creativity Coasching Association, NW Watercolor Society, and National and Washington Art Education Associations.

I invite you to visit my website http://shabalastudio.com for more information on my classes, workshops, and coaching. After all, "the only way to do art wrong is not to do art."

Samples of Marcia's Work