Fine arts instructor

Fine arts instructors educate students in specific theory and, primarily, practice-based fine arts courses at a specialised fine arts school or conservatory at a higher education level, including drawing, painting and sculpturing. They provide theoretical instruction in service of the practical skills and techniques the students must subsequently master in the fine arts. Fine arts instructors monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate their knowledge and performance on the fine arts through, often practical, assignments, tests and examinations.

The following job titles also refer to fine arts instructor:

fine arts educator
fine arts conservatory trainer
professor of fine arts
fine arts conservatory instructor
conservatory instructor in fine arts
fine arts conservatory teacher
instructor in fine arts
fine arts conservatory lecturer

High school diploma is generally required to work as fine arts instructor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Fine arts instructor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to fine arts instructor.

visual arts teacher
art teacher secondary school
adult literacy teacher
music instructor
further education teacher

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of fine arts instructor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of fine arts instructor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of fine arts instructor.

Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

These skills are necessary for the role of fine arts instructor.

Teach arts principles: Instruct students in the theory and practice of arts and crafts and the fine arts, whether recreationally, as part of their general education, or with the aim of assisting them in pursuing a future career in this field. Offer instruction in courses such as drawing, painting, sculpting and ceramics.
Guarantee students’ safety: Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
Assess conservation needs: Assess and list the needs for conservation/restoration, in relation to current use and planned future use.
Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Monitor developments in field of expertise: Keep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.
Compile course material: Write, select or recommend a syllabus of learning material for the students enrolled in the course.
Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Liaise with educational support staff: Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students’ well-being.
Manage student relationships: Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
Select artistic materials to create artworks: Select artistic materials based on strength, colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the expected shape, color, etc. – even thought the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink, water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material depending on the creative project.
Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
Apply teaching strategies: Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners’ level, goals, and priorities.
Create craft prototypes: Fabricate and prepare prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
Assist students with equipment: Provide assistance to students when working with (technical) equipment used in practice-based lessons and solve operational problems when necessary.
Select subject matter: Select subject matter based on personal or public interest, or ordered by a publisher or agent.
Demonstrate when teaching: Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
Supervise craft production: Fabricate/prepare patterns or templates to guide the crafting production process.
Perform classroom management: Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.
Apply intercultural teaching strategies: Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.
Develop course outline: Research and establish an outline of the course to be taught and calculate a time frame for the instructional plan in accordance with school regulations and curriculum objectives.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fine arts instructor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Types of paint: Varieties of paint and chemicals used in their composition.
Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.
Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.
Types of pottery material: Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Ergonomics: The science of designing systems, processes and products that complement the strengths of people so that they can use them easily and safely.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of fine arts instructor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Create sculptures: Create decorative sculptures by hand, using a variety of techniques and materials.
Assist in the organisation of school events: Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school’s open house day, a sports game or a talent show.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Facilitate teamwork between students: Encourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.
Use traditional illustration techniques: Create drawings using traditional illustration techniques such as watercolour, pen and ink, airbrush art, oil painting, pastels, wood engraving, and linoleum cuts.
Promote the conservatory: Maintain a positive image of the conservatory and use personal network in the best interest of the conservatory, such as establishing valuable artistic and financial connections.
Create sketches: Draw sketches to prepare for a drawing or as a standalone artistic technique.
Paint sets: Paint set constructions and stage props.
Develop curriculum: Develop and plan the learning goals and outcomes for education institutions, as well as the required teaching methods and potential education resources.
Manage resources for educational purposes: Identify the necessary resources needed for learning purposes, such as materials in class or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.
Use digital illustration techniques: Create drawings using digital illustration programmes and techniques.
Assist students with their dissertation: Support university students with the writing of their paper or theses. Advise on research methods or additions to certain parts of their dissertations. Report different types of errors, such as research or methodological errors, to the student.
Use painting techniques: Apply painting techniques such as ‘trompe l’oeil’, ‘faux finishing’ and aging techniques.
Keep records of attendance: Keep track of the pupils who are absent by recording their names on a list of absentees.
Adapt instruction to labour market: Identify developments in the labour market and recognise their relevance to the training of students.
Work with virtual learning environments: Incorporate the use of online learning environments and platforms into the process of instruction.
Operate a ceramics kiln: Manage the temperature of a kiln to achieve the expected results according to the type of clay such as biscuit stoneware or porcelain. Manage sintering and enamels colours.
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
Assist students in their learning: Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
Gather reference materials for artwork: Gather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.
Manage different ceramic firing techniques: Manage different ceramic firing or baking techniques according to selected clay, the expect strength of the object, and enamel colours.
Use genre painting techniques: Use a genre or academic painting and drawing techniques.
Provide career counselling: Advise beneficiaries on future career options through counselling and, potentially, through career testing and evaluation.

2310 – University and higher education teachers

 

 

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References

1. Fine arts instructor – ESCO