Hello and thank you for visiting my art portfolio website!
Here, you will discover the incredible artistic growth and achievements of my students, as well as gain insights into my teaching philosophy. From vibrant paintings to intricate sculptures, this portfolio showcases the dynamic and captivating journey of artistic exploration that takes place within the walls of my classroom.
As an Art & Design teacher with a deep passion for drawing, painting, textiles, costume design, and large-scale art installations I strive to empower students to develop their unique artistic voices and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the transformative power of art.
Central to my artistic philosophy is the inherent value I place on sustainable practices and the transformative potential of repurposing everyday items. Embracing this ethos allows me to remove these items from the carbon cycle and grant them a renewed purpose and vitality.
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar” – Helen Keller.
My story
I have begun my art teaching career through a series of small steps starting two decades ago in New York City. After studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, I worked as a junior designer for independent haute couture and pret-a-porter labels. My experience in the industry gave me the confidence to be at the forefront of the upcycling movement. My label ‘Marlenka” specialised in deconstructing vintage apparel to create one of a kind couture garments. During this time I have also accidentally embarked on a journey of educating youth in the creative arts. I created a jewellery making and mosaics program for an inner city high school outreach program which gave me a new perspective into the value of creative arts for young people. I have had the privilege to be the first children’s yoga teacher at the Police Athletic League (PAL) “Summer Streets” Program in Harlem and the Bronx and found it incredibly rewarding. I had the opportunity to incorporate art education and yoga into inner-city PAL after-school programs throughout NYC boroughs and infuse mindfulness and growth mindset into the curriculum while providing a safe and nurturing environment for youth. These early experiences teaching art in community centres & after school programs had profound impact on my career path.
During my extended international travels I have had the opportunity to work at the Thamarai Community Learning Centre in Auroville, India teaching arts & crafts and building a permaculture art garden. In a nearby village I Co-founded ‘Art Space’ – a creative arts education centre for rural children which provided them with a creative outlet. The overall fusion of these experiences set me on a life trajectory to teach creative arts professionally.
I have gained my PGCE at the University of Sunderland with art placements in renown international schools: Epsom Malaysia & Harrow Beijing. It is there that I deepened, solidified and practiced my skills while continuing to teach to an internationally diverse student body. While working as a Co-teacher at the Western Academy Beijing I studied PYP Visual Arts curriculum and inquiry based approach to education. Dulwich College in Beijing provided me with long term full-time teaching experience and further opportunities for professional development.
During Covid I joined the British School Yangon which was teaching online due to covid and the coup. In my first year online I have effectively delivered the British National curriculum across the secondary school to students with very limited access to art media. I successfully took over the IGCSE and A Level classes mid program, and lead students to excellent passing results with the Cambridge and Pearson’s exam boards. When BSY returned to Yangon I have stayed on to assure my students had a smooth transition into physical school and continued their art education.