January House Literary Journal and Creating this School Year

Red Plateau, 5″ x 7″, Mixed Media (Detail)

Check out my artwork that was recently accepted into January House’s Literary Journal this summer. This fall, I will have “Red Plateau” on the cover of January House’s fall Journal issue, along with an artist statement about the two works: “Red Plateau” and “Peter and Me.” Stay tuned!

For artists, poets, educators, and others, consider submitting your work to January House this year. The process was incredibly enriching, and I enjoy reading their posts and appreciating the artwork and poetry of others.

It is often challenging to create art alongside the demands of life and professional work. I create art both during my time off from school and in the classroom with my students when the opportunity allows itself, allowing my students to see my creative process and understand what I do.

For art educators and educators alike, this year, I challenge you to submit your artwork or creative work to either January House Literary Journal or another outlet of your choosing, and to create art or engage with creative projects with your students at some point in the year. This will allow them, your students, to gain a deeper understanding of your artistic and creative process and showcase how you can work alongside them. It’s an important idea that I think about often as a art educator year to year.

This can look like working on an art piece or a creative project in increments of time or short work periods during a class session when you have everyone settled and working because there is so much to attend to in the classroom, and you don’t want to lose sight of your students and their work.

Be yourself and give working alongside your students a try.

All the best to you as you start the school year ahead!

With gratitude,

Ben