Tiffany Searcy grew
up in rural-eastern Connecticut with her parents and three siblings. Searcy
left Connecticut in 2004 to attend college at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta,
GA. She graduated in 2008 with a BA in studio art and a concentration in
education. She settled in Atlanta and went on to work for Marist School as
the Assistant to the Dean of Students. Currently she is pursuing her Master's in Art Education at the University of Florida and is projected to
graduate in May 2014. Today she is the Upper School Visual Arts teacher at Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek, GA.
Searcy's teaching philosophy is based on establishing an active and creative environment. She believes art education should harbor critical and analytical response to social and cultural issues. In addition to an objective teaching style, her lessons invoke self-awareness and cultural identity. Most importantly she believes in teaching to a democratic classroom, which investigates national identity and applies life's realities to classroom discussions. Her goal for her program is to facilitate an art-centered curriculum which shapes and molds students’ abilities to relate to the world through creative opportunities.
Her passion for photography grants her a unique perspective on life. She enjoys taking candid photographs along with creating compositional images that demonstrate complex, leading lines exhibiting depth and perspective. In addition to photography, she has experience with ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting, 3D design, and layout design. Recently, Searcy is completed a series of acrylic and mixed media paintings entitled Perception.
Searcy's teaching philosophy is based on establishing an active and creative environment. She believes art education should harbor critical and analytical response to social and cultural issues. In addition to an objective teaching style, her lessons invoke self-awareness and cultural identity. Most importantly she believes in teaching to a democratic classroom, which investigates national identity and applies life's realities to classroom discussions. Her goal for her program is to facilitate an art-centered curriculum which shapes and molds students’ abilities to relate to the world through creative opportunities.
Her passion for photography grants her a unique perspective on life. She enjoys taking candid photographs along with creating compositional images that demonstrate complex, leading lines exhibiting depth and perspective. In addition to photography, she has experience with ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting, 3D design, and layout design. Recently, Searcy is completed a series of acrylic and mixed media paintings entitled Perception.
My teaching Statement & Philosophy
Teaching Statement | |
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My Faith Journey:
Faith Statement | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
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Special Art Memories:
Melted Crayons (age 6)
Mom told Lisa and I to go outside and play, I grabbed my crayons and coloring books and headed outside. It was a warm summer day, just before lunch. I began to color in my coloring book, something that I always loved to do. My freshly sharpened crayons sat in their box in the same order that they came in. I took great pride in my crayons. Not long after playing with my crayons, Mom called us in for lunch. I left my coloring book and crayons outside while I went in for lunch. When I came back out to play, my crayons had softened and when I brought the crayon to the page, the melted wax left a smooth, glossy look on the paper. I was not sure whether to be disheartened with what happened or to be intrigued by this new discovery. My crayons had melted into a liquid form, into a crayon paintbrush. I was amazed. I began to draw on rocks. The bright colors of the melted crayons spread onto the rocks transforming the rocks into something beautiful. I found a new purpose for my crayons.
Bookmark Stamps (age 7)
It was a summer day when Grandma can to visit. We had not seen her in months, but I knew she was going to bring my sister and I something artsy. I loved art supplies, especially new ones. I always looked forward to her gifts. Grandma was an artist and she knew how much I loved to create. When she pulled into the driveway we ran outside with excitement. I could not wait to see what she had for me. Within minutes of her arrival she was pulling out a new stamp set, my first stamp set, with small rectangular pieces of paper. It was a bookmark making kit. I went straight to work, tying the different colored tassels to the newly stamped bookmarks. I recall playing with this kit for hours, coming up with new designs and coloring the stamps in with markers.
Circles and Trees (age 8)
It was time for art class. I excitedly entered the art room and greeted Mr. St. Marie. He was my favorite art teacher. Today he was showing use how to make the perfect circle. I stood next to the desk as I watched him demonstrate the lesson of the day. His pencil sat about an inch from the paper as he moved his arm and hand in a circular motion, simulating the act of drawing the circle. He told us that you have to practice the motion of a circle before actually putting the lead to the page. I watched his every move, studying his perfect circle as he placed the pencil to his paper. I could not wait to return to my desk to practice this new technique. Who would have thought drawing circles could be so fun?
The next day in art class, Mr. St. Marie was going to show us how to draw trees. I was astonished when he explained the simplicity of drawing such an abstract figure. We were using “Vs” over and over again to create the branches, adding dimension through intertwining the lines and drawing circular shapes to emulate leaves on the branches. I could not wait to go home to show my parents my new learned skill.
Painting Porcelain Figures (age 10)
We were going to the flea market, so I knew Mom would end up purchasing more porcelain figures for me to paint. It was our new hobby that we shared. They were not large objects but I always enjoyed adding color to the white figures that we would glue magnets to the back so we could show off our handy work on the fridge. I went straight to the back of the room when we arrived at the flea market. I began to sift through the small figures before Mom met up with me. I had already set aside my favorite pieces so that I could show her before she made it to the table. It was a rainy day so I knew whatever I ended up buying would be painted before the end of the day. I selected three pieces, a butterfly which was always a favorite of mine, a scarecrow and mouse, and a unicorn. When we got home, I ran to the sewing room and pulled out my acrylic paints from under the counter. I went to work mixing colors and applying paint to my new figures.
Mom told Lisa and I to go outside and play, I grabbed my crayons and coloring books and headed outside. It was a warm summer day, just before lunch. I began to color in my coloring book, something that I always loved to do. My freshly sharpened crayons sat in their box in the same order that they came in. I took great pride in my crayons. Not long after playing with my crayons, Mom called us in for lunch. I left my coloring book and crayons outside while I went in for lunch. When I came back out to play, my crayons had softened and when I brought the crayon to the page, the melted wax left a smooth, glossy look on the paper. I was not sure whether to be disheartened with what happened or to be intrigued by this new discovery. My crayons had melted into a liquid form, into a crayon paintbrush. I was amazed. I began to draw on rocks. The bright colors of the melted crayons spread onto the rocks transforming the rocks into something beautiful. I found a new purpose for my crayons.
Bookmark Stamps (age 7)
It was a summer day when Grandma can to visit. We had not seen her in months, but I knew she was going to bring my sister and I something artsy. I loved art supplies, especially new ones. I always looked forward to her gifts. Grandma was an artist and she knew how much I loved to create. When she pulled into the driveway we ran outside with excitement. I could not wait to see what she had for me. Within minutes of her arrival she was pulling out a new stamp set, my first stamp set, with small rectangular pieces of paper. It was a bookmark making kit. I went straight to work, tying the different colored tassels to the newly stamped bookmarks. I recall playing with this kit for hours, coming up with new designs and coloring the stamps in with markers.
Circles and Trees (age 8)
It was time for art class. I excitedly entered the art room and greeted Mr. St. Marie. He was my favorite art teacher. Today he was showing use how to make the perfect circle. I stood next to the desk as I watched him demonstrate the lesson of the day. His pencil sat about an inch from the paper as he moved his arm and hand in a circular motion, simulating the act of drawing the circle. He told us that you have to practice the motion of a circle before actually putting the lead to the page. I watched his every move, studying his perfect circle as he placed the pencil to his paper. I could not wait to return to my desk to practice this new technique. Who would have thought drawing circles could be so fun?
The next day in art class, Mr. St. Marie was going to show us how to draw trees. I was astonished when he explained the simplicity of drawing such an abstract figure. We were using “Vs” over and over again to create the branches, adding dimension through intertwining the lines and drawing circular shapes to emulate leaves on the branches. I could not wait to go home to show my parents my new learned skill.
Painting Porcelain Figures (age 10)
We were going to the flea market, so I knew Mom would end up purchasing more porcelain figures for me to paint. It was our new hobby that we shared. They were not large objects but I always enjoyed adding color to the white figures that we would glue magnets to the back so we could show off our handy work on the fridge. I went straight to the back of the room when we arrived at the flea market. I began to sift through the small figures before Mom met up with me. I had already set aside my favorite pieces so that I could show her before she made it to the table. It was a rainy day so I knew whatever I ended up buying would be painted before the end of the day. I selected three pieces, a butterfly which was always a favorite of mine, a scarecrow and mouse, and a unicorn. When we got home, I ran to the sewing room and pulled out my acrylic paints from under the counter. I went to work mixing colors and applying paint to my new figures.