Episode 8 Summary
In this episode of Exploring Creativity, host Rich Pfeifer interviews artist and teacher Stephanie Smelser who is originally from New Haven, Connecticut. Smelser discusses her early inspirations from her creative family and visits to the Yale Art Gallery with her grandfather. She talks about her journey in art, influenced by impactful teachers and her integration of educational subjects like history and science into her creative work. Stephanie explains her teaching philosophy, the importance of light-bulb moments, and the value of nurturing creativity in students. She shares personal anecdotes, including a pivotal experience of receiving a poor grade on a sunflower still life and subsequently excelling with a drawing of potatoes, which reshaped her understanding of artistic expression. Additionally, Smelser speaks about using art as a platform for education on societal issues, such as breast cancer and autism, and the importance of financial stability for budding artists.
