The formal education of Julia Lee Schlotter began in the kindergarten classroom of Miss Dinkle. Long wooden tables in front of large windows provided a sunny view to the outside. The best part were the small wooden easels set up for painting. I had a black and white paint smock, like the work apron of a carpenter, trimmed in bright colors (I still have it). In my visual timeline, the paintings of the fish and home are my actual paintings from kindergarten. I also included the word “dyslexia” in my presentation. I was a diagnosed in first grade and spent many years trying to tame the beast. My written papers could be held up to a mirror to read them.

 

My mother was the most important person towards developing my creativity. She was the homemaker of that time that did everything from sewing, refinishing of furniture, canning, gardening and caning the seats of chairs. Every interest that I had she helped developed by either field trips to museums, antiquing or craft projects. There was so much more that she did, that I couldn’t even begin to write about, without taking up a good part of this paper. The other great thing that she did was save my work so that I can share it with you.

 

The 1970’s brought me to high school and my wonderful teacher, Dr. Meadows. Loved exploring art and the projects that we were presented. The picture of the weaving is significant in that it was the piece that led me to opt out of weaving 101 in college. That’s me in my graduation robes about to embark on my journey into the real educational field of art.

 

The next teacher that I had that inspired me was a teacher by the name of Edyth West whom I had for painting. She taught me that you could use other things to paint with other than brushes. The painting that I included is where the skirt of the girl was painted with pine needles. I was the only freshman to show (the painting) in an intercollegiate show of six colleges.

 

The drawing of the nude figure is to indicate that initially my major was Fashion Illustration. I spent a full year of courses under this major when the teacher decided to leave to go back home to London. Catherine Clayton Parnell, an illustrator for Women’s Wear Daily, who advised me to go into Graphic Design, reviewed my portfolio. I made the switch and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design.

 

My career began as a graphic layout specialist for the University of Missouri-Columbia at the third largest printing services in the United States. We printed everything from business cards to books including the 1987 Missouri Tax Form before computers. This involved hand ruling, line tape and cutting type to fit in. Another added bonus when working for the University was the ability to take courses to further my skills. Marilyn Holsinger was the teacher that I had for Graphic Design and taught me about metamorphosis of images that led into logos.

 

The 1990’s involved babies and family activities. This was also a time when my children went into the school system and how much it had changed. It was in 2004 that I separated which led to me looking for a job occupation. So, since so much time had past since I worked I went back to school at the Art Institute of Jacksonville to develop skills on the computer. It was really a baptism by fire because I had been raising children and really hadn’t been on a computer. But by lots of perseverance and help by some great teachers (Luciana Gassett, Chris Stagl, Graham Young), I graduated in 2009 with an AA in Graphic Design. Then the recession hit and the print industry took a big hit. After countless interviews I made a career change to education.

 

My employment began at a private school teaching middle to high school student’s art, another baptism by fire. To become a better teacher I went back to school to get my education classes graduating this past December. I enjoyed my kids a lot and watched in their delight on how to be creative to bring projects together. These were inner city children that I enjoyed opening doors for them in their personal expression through art.

The organization Society of Mixed Media Artists I have belonged to since 2010, it is so I have contact with some pretty amazing and talented artists. It helps me to keep my creative juices charged by the workshops and meetings with guest speakers.

 

By going back to get my Master of Arts in Art Education it is my hopes to be become even better at bringing art to the current generation of students.