Bio

As a lifelong Maine resident, I am excited to share my passion for the visual arts with the young people in our community. After attending Savannah College of Art and Design, I earned my BA in Studio Art and Communication from University of Southern Maine, where I studied art history, photography, book arts, and graphic design. I graduated in 2018 with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Maine College of Art, where I focused on creative teaching and learning strategies, exceptionality in the art room, and creating integrated and innovative lessons that connect students with the world around them.

Prior to earning my Masters degree, I worked for nine years at Portland Stage in arts education as a program manager, grant writer, and fund-raiser.  As a Program Manager and Development Director at Portland Stage, I worked promoting the arts in education, developing programs, making connections, and building relationships with students, families, schools, and artists.

Skills that I bring to the classroom include a drawing, printmaking, 2D design, painting, creating with paper, photography and digital art / graphic design. As a middle school art teacher, I specialize in 3D Art including lessons in paper, cardboard, paper mache, plaster, ceramics, wire and more. My students inspire me every day to try new things, to be resilient, to accept failure, and to try again.

As a professional ceramics artist, I create functional and decorative ceramics with a focuses on surface design. My work is inspired by my background in printmaking – drypoint etching, relief, gelatin printing, and silk screen. I enjoy experimenting with oxides, underglazes, and high fire glazes to create unique textural effects inspired by the unique natural world that surrounds us in the state on Maine. You can view my work in person at Portland Pottery Gallery, Heritage Seaweed in Portland, the Society of East End Artist annual show, and other seasonal exhibitions and markets in the area. Follow me on Instagram for more information about my artwork and upcoming shows @samara_yandell.