JEFFRY’S TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Jeffry’s teaching philosophy is based upon first teaching strong technical skills and possessing a strong understanding of representational art.  When teaching, he prefers to inform the student more on technique, rather than on artistic style or any type of expressive philosophy.  By first mastering painting technique, and having proficiency in painting our actual physical world, this then gives the painter the "tools" (or actual ability) to express themselves in nearly any way imaginable - without limitations.  I can't imagine Mozart trying to write and play all the music he heard in his mind, if he only had the ability to play three or four chords - on only one instrument!

Jeffry also feels the "expressive" nature of an artist’s work really should come from within the individual anyway.  He believes when an instructor tries to influence the creative element in painting too greatly, the student spends more energy trying to please the instructor's ideologies, rather than their own.

Present Experience & Credentials

Teaching Experience:

• Northwestern University, Evanston, Il.
• River East art Center, Chicago,Il.
• Old Town Art Center, Chicago, Il.
• Northern Indiana Arts Assoc., Munster, In.
• South Shore Arts, Munster , In.
• Merrillville Adult Ed., Merrillville , In.
• Hobart arts league, Hobart, In.
• Chesterton Art Gallery, Chesterton, In.
• Hobby Lobby, Merrillville, In.
• Hobby Lobby, Bloomington , In.
• Michael’s Crafts, Bloomington, In.
• Waldron Art Center, Bloomington, In.
• Private lessons - Indiana & Illinois

• The Steeple Gallery, Saint John, In.
• Apache Cove Gallery, Merrillville, In.
• California Art Gallery, Merrillville, In.
• Brown County Art Gallery, Nashville, In.
• Oak Tree Gallery, Schererville, In.
• Affordable Art, Nashville, In.
• The Framing Guild, Bloomington, In.
• Lake Artist Gallery, Hobart, In.
• R&R Studios, Merrillville, In.
• Artists Den Gallery, Valporaiso, In.
• Illiana Artists Incorporated, Munster, In.
• Home Essentials, Travers City, Mi.
• Chesterton Art League, Chesterton, In
• Iris Garden Gallery, Nashville, In.

Published Artworks thru:

• Cups of Chicago – Chicago, IL.
• Art World Chicago – Chicago, IL.

Education:

• Associates Degree, Purdue University - Architectural technology
• Bachelors Degree, Purdue University - Construction technology
• Masters Degree, Indiana University - Art education

Press Releases:

• The Star, Lake County, In. - May 2008
• Chesterton Tribune, Porter County, In. - June 2008
• Post Tribune, Lake County, In. – June 1999, February 2005
• The Times, Lake County, In. – December 2002, February 2005
• Television interview WYIN Channel 56 - Chicagoland – September, 2003

Recent Honors:

• 57th GFWC Chesterton Woman's Club Show  08'           1st Place & Best of Show

Although it’s not clearly evident looking at my artwork, depending on whom you talk to, those who have met me could describe me as conservative, or liberal, or a nonconformist, or even an idealist?  I would hope they mention all of the above since I believe people should not limit themselves to single ideology, or catagory of people.  I like to think people are not so "narrow" in their thinking.

Like many artists, however, I can carry the burden of possessing some rather unorthodox convictions concerning political or philosophical issues.  I sometimes produce music addressing such things, but I don’t necessarily attempt to "change the world" socially or politically through my visual art.  I believe there are better avenues suited for that, if that were one’s main motivation in being a painter.  I do, however, try to "reach" the individual viewer on some type of personal level, or possibly establish some sort of common ground mentally, or emotionally. 

I have always loved the great "genre" painters of the past, so what I consider my best work might be described as genre painting.  I usually try to portray these "common" scenes in an alternative way compositionally.  Or, I may try and evoke a personal past experience in the viewer.  Other times, I may encourage them to imagine a time or place that they may never have had the privilege to experience themselves, or one that only exists in our "minds eye".  I feel, if an artist is actually successful in any such thing, that’s quite an accomplishment in itself.

I also realized long ago, that people tend to appreciate things they often take for granted, when those very same things are portrayed in a painting or sculpture.  It’s a simple, yet interesting, phenomenon.  So, I often use the arts as a means to remind people of the beauty and the endless visual stimulations the world they live in has to offer.  I do occasionally work in abstract ways, but have always been most attracted to art that represents our world as we do, or could, normally see it.  I hold a great appreciation for our world’s sights and sounds as they currently exist; so I rarely feel the desire to alter those visualizations too abstractly.

Concerning my choice of subject matter, I do enjoy keeping it constantly changing and evolving.  Although I still, and always will, possess a great appreciation for the simple majesty of nature, the creatures that live within it, and the beauty found in the human figure.  My favorite paintings will usually contain one, or possibly both, of these elements within them.

Finally, I also believe professional artists inherit a certain amount of accountability to their buyers by continuing to grow and evolve creatively.  Otherwise, their art often becomes stagnant, less unique, and less meaningful to the patron.  I myself, hope to not only continue developing my technical skills, but more importantly, continue to pursue the countless avenues artists can take in order to communicate.