Having a career in art is based on strong inner feelings that tell a person what it is he or she wants to be, regardless of one's age. By becoming familiar with the lives of artists and what has inspired them, with knowledge of their working processes, teachers can better plan activities for the students in their care. This article takes a look at…

Presents an interview with Jude Odell, a clay artist and art teacher, in which she discusses her educational background, her experience with teaching, and her career as a ceramic artist. Includes a lesson for creating a figurative goblet. (CMK)

Provides background information on the life and career of Gerald Brockhurst, an artist known for his etchings. Includes information on his etchings. Describes the travelling exhibition of Brockhurst's etchings "Gerald Leslie Brockhurst: Etchings from the William P. Brumfield Memorial Collection." (CMK)

Presents an interview with artist Patricia Uchill Simons, focusing on her history as a clay artist, why she uses clay, when she started making her menagerie of animals, her process for creating her artwork, her teaching experience, and why she believes clay is a good medium for students. (CMK)

Provides background information on the lives and works of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Focuses on the artwork of the artists and the museums where their work is displayed. Includes museum photographs of their work. (CMK)

Presents an interview with Rebecca Zimmerman, an artist who works with polymer clay. Focuses on topics, such as her interest in art during her life, her use of polymer clay as a medium, and using this medium with students. Includes directions for a project where students make flowers from polymer clay. (CMK)

Presents an interview with Scott Bennett, an artist of abstract art and traditional craft. Focuses on issues such as the role of art in his life, how his art has developed over time, and his process of creating his works of art. Includes directions for a glazing project. (CMK)

Explores the life and work of the artist, Winslow Homer, a 19th century painter and illustrator. Focuses on the exhibition, "Winslow Homer the Illustrator: His Wood Engravings, 1857-1888." Includes the itinerary for the exhibition and examples of his illustrations. (CMK)

Provides background information on the life and career of Charles Rogers Grooms, better known as Red Grooms. Describes the art exhibit, "Red Grooms: Selections from the Graphic Work," presented by the Tennessee State Museum (Nashville, Tennessee). (CMK)

Presents an interview with Debra W. Fritts, a ceramic artist who created handbuilt terra-cotta sculptures. Focuses on topics, such as her childhood, her beginning interests in art, her teaching, her growth as an artist, and the techniques she uses when creating her sculptures. Includes directions for a rattle project. (CMK)

Provides an interview with John E. Kennedy that focuses on topics such as his childhood interest in creating puppets, his puppetry career, and his workshop called Character Lab 2000. Provides a lesson for students 8-years-old and older on how to create a pencil head rabbit puppet. (CMK)

Provides information about the artist Katsukawa Shuntei and his artwork entitled "The Warrior Egara no Heita Battling with the Giant Serpent" that is a wood-block print. Describes how block prints are created and offers learning activities. Includes background information on the artwork. (CMK)

Focuses on the life and career of Fairfield Porter who was a painter working in the style of Intimist inspired Realist. Provides background information on Porter and examples of his artwork. Describes the exhibit "Fairfield Porter: A Life in Art, 1907 1975." (CMK)

Provides background information on the artistic movement, Expressionism. Focuses on well known artists and describes Expressionist art. Includes art activities and a reproduction of a painting by John Marin. Presents information on Marin's life, career, and an analysis of the painting. (CMK)

Presents an art project where students are asked to use paper to create a product for a business, such as paper flowers. Explains that the project works well for sixth- and seventh-grade students. Discusses the process of creating the product and the product exchange. (CMK)