Student Work
Michael Kent Knutson
Teaching Philosophy
As an artist, educator, and art advocate, my mission is to develop freethinking, original artists who combine creativity with strong technical skills. I view teaching as a mutual exchange; students learn from me, and I continually learn from their insights and perspectives.
My approach balances creativity and craftsmanship. While aesthetics and expression are deeply personal, technical proficiency provides the structure that allows ideas to take form. I guide students to create work that reflects their unique voice while demonstrating a high level of skill and intentional design.
In the classroom, I serve as an observer, coach, and guide, sometimes directing, waiting, and always responding to students’ needs. Learning to draw or paint is, in many ways, learning to see. Assignments challenge students to observe critically and think deeply about form, space, and design. Through structured instruction, I teach the principles of image-making, construction methods, and the progression from general to specific using the fundamentals of two-dimensional design.
I cultivate the studio as a laboratory for experimentation and growth, where confidence, risk-taking, and creative problem-solving are encouraged. Each student receives individual attention and feedback that supports their artistic development. Assignments emphasize flexibility and personal motivation, helping students strengthen conceptual thinking and technical mastery.
My teaching integrates art history and contemporary practice, exposing students to diverse artists, movements, and career paths. Through discussions and written responses, students analyze and reflect on these influences, learning to connect inspiration with their own creative goals.
I aim to equip students with visual literacy, discipline, and confidence to engage meaningfully with the art world. By understanding artmaking traditions and evolving possibilities, students leave my classroom prepared to express themselves with purpose, skill, and imagination.
