New art teacher Dr. Blake Smith wants to provide students with new opportunities to learn and grow.

Dr. Smith, a teacher for 22 years, has experience with a wide range of age groups. She most recently taught at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

“I taught high school for over ten years, mostly darkroom and digital photography, with the other ten plus years being in higher education at Rhode Island School of Design and The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C.,” Dr. Smith said. “I’ve also taught art, drawing and painting, ceramics, crafts, and sculpture.”

Dr. Smith believes she brings a unique perspective to Midtown through her extensive experiences all over the world.

“I think what I’m bringing, as a unique perspective, is my lived experiences, and how many years I’ve taught, and all the places I’ve taught,” Dr. Smith said. “I’ve taught in Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Vancouver, British Columbia, Rhode Island, and now here, in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.”

Dr. Smith has always loved art, but she said her creativity has been fostered by numerous teachers throughout her life, who have inspired and challenged her.

“I have always been a creative bird, and I’ve met lots of artists and teachers that encourage creativity,” Dr. Smith said. “I had an elementary school art teacher, a high school art teacher [who] got me into a darkroom and a college photography instructor [who] was incredible. I guess it was being exposed to other art educators and always wanting to be in a creative field. And then I love helping people. I love inspiring people. So, that’s where teaching comes into play.”

This year, Dr. Smith will be teaching six classes, including Drawing and Painting I, II, III and IV, Art Composition and Art History. Dr. Smith said she is finding that within each class, immense talent exists that she hopes that she can nurture and guide through a judgment-free environment.

“I’m seeing really talented, creative artists, both in the art program and some of my students overlap with the fashion program,” Dr. Smith said. “It should be a safe space for that [creativity]. We’re not judging; everyone’s at where they’re at, they’re on a journey.”

Dr. Smith hopes, with this environment, she can challenge her students to push themselves to dive deeper into their art and creative thinking.

“Every day, if I find people that look like they’re maxing out on an assignment, or it’s too easy, I’m asking them to take on a challenge … and every kid that I have asked in the last two weeks, they have taken my challenge,” Dr. Smith said. “The fact that everyone around here so far has been like, ‘I want to try,’ I really admire that. That’s a trait I’m seeing about kids at this school, which is really cool, and I’m a big proponent of the growth mindset. Any student who says they can’t, or they failed, or they’re not good, I’m always challenging them and reminding them they can’t do that thing yet. I’m always reminding kids about the power of not yet.”

Sophomore Tegan Derro is in Drawing and Painting 1 with Dr. Smith and said she appreciates the environment that she has promoted with her easygoing and flexible teaching style.

“I like how relaxed she is and takes everything at her own pace,” Derro said. “I also appreciate how she is in tune to students’ feelings and understands if we need to take a break or step away for a minute. She wants us to be open to our mistakes, and understand that everyone is at their own level, and everyone can make great art.”

Students, including Derro, are intrigued by the new changes Dr. Smith hopes to bring to Midtown, such as a new digital photography class.

“I think the digital photography class is a great idea,” senior Eva Gustafson, who’s in Dr. Smith’s drawing and painting lV class, said. “[Dr. Smith] is bringing lots of new ideas and changes that I think will positively benefit our art program.”

By building on the past success of former art teacher John Brandhorst, Dr. Smiths aims to positively impact students’ lives through curating their love and passion for all types of art.

“I’m aware that there was a dynamic person that left ahead of me, and everyone here misses him, and I think that that’s important to honor, and I also think we are making space for new experiences and new curriculum and new ways of thinking about art and education,” Dr. Smith said.

Dr. Smith said she is excited for the future of Midtown art and her role in facilitating a flourishing program.

“What I know is that there’s this really strong program here and a love of art and extremely talented teachers in the program,” Dr. Smith said. “I’m really excited about the teamwork and the collaborations and the uniqueness of all of that, and I’m 100% confident that the program is going to continue to shine.”