Who Am I as an Artist?
This is a question many have asked themselves within the creative world. Everyone has many different characteristics that make up who they are as an artist, which is what makes each and every one of us unique. To say you are one type of artist is a disservice to oneself because you can be more than one type of artist, made up of many different factors. When looking into myself and who I am as an artist, I came up with three descriptors.
I am a teaching artist. I teach students in a fun and engaging way, making sure they are enjoying every moment within the art classroom. When one enjoys what they are learning, they are more likely to understand the content being given to them. I aim to teach more than just what is expected of me as an everyday art teacher. I like to push boundaries and get my students to think about the deeper meaning of pieces of art and dig deep down into how art makes them feel as well. This allows me to teach my students art is more than just about the piece itself, but also the connection we form with it.
I am an artistic creator. Outside of teaching, I create art for my enjoyment. Much of my artwork is focused on topics that I am passionate about. These typically include raising awareness on topics such as animal captivity and mental health. However, when I am not creating pieces like this, I tend to create art based on things I love such as my pet dog, family, and music. All of these combined allow me to experiment with my creative process with every new project I start.
I am a constant learner. Although I am a teacher, I am aware that I will always be constantly learning from those around me. Colleagues may teach me how I can better organize my lesson plans. Students within my class may teach me how to modify my teaching to ensure everyone is learning at the same pace. There will always be room for me to learn regardless of if I am a teacher or not. However, since I do have the opportunity to be one, it helps ensure that I constantly learn and grow with those around me.
Who am I as an artist? I am bold. I am expressive. I am purposeful. I am Catie.
Meet the Artist
Catherine Cherpelis, most commonly known as Catie, is an artist and art educator located in Floral Park, New York. Graduating from St. John’s University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and Adelphi with a Master in Art Education, I am on a mission to impact more young minds to find the same love and passion for the arts that has been instilled in me for years.
My first introduction to art was when I started Irish dancing at the age of three. While dance was the main focus, the dresses involved were colorful with unique designs on them. From then on, I was fascinated with art. The biggest moment from dance that pushed me into starting art lessons was when I sprained my hip. My aunt signed me up for a real art class and my journey began.
Through the trials and tribulations of being a teenager in high school, I started to use art as a therapeutic outlet. Soon my artwork reflected how I was feeling and what I, and many others, were going through. The spark for creating emotional and vulnerable art was one that burst into flames and has not settled down since.
In the mix of the highs and lows of my teen years, I saw the controversial film “Blackfish”, which kickstarted my interest in animal activism. Though my main focus is on animals in captivity, I have grown to love creating any animal related artwork.
Throughout college, I was able to push boundaries and create artwork that would make viewers think and feel a certain way. My two most successful pieces focused on orcas within animal captivity and self-reflection on mental health. The feedback I received on both pieces solidified that emotion-driven artwork is what I value most as an artist.
These moments within my life have trained me to become the artist I am and to instill the knowledge I have gained onto my students as growing artists as well. I look forward to creating a new relationship with art as I step into the world as an artistic teacher.