Hello, I’m Mr. Ryan the art teacher at Sacajawea. My philosophy on art education is simple, celebrate creativity at every stage of development! I believe in teaching a strong core foundation in all art and design principles, but more importantly I believe in finding ways to engage elementary age students in creative problem solving and storytelling.

I think that the key to a healthy and successful art program is making art skills attainable through age appropriate subject matter. I don’t find that making your student replicate famous works of art on a regular basis builds an appreciation for creativity or artistic risk taking. I plan each lesson with your child in mind ( I also try to think about myself at their age).

I use visual tools like toys, cartoons and comics hand in hand with important works of art. I try to get our Sacajawea kids excited about art making, whether It’s a self-portrait on paper, or a giant stuffed Coca-Cola bottle in honor of Andy Warhol, or a shoebox diorama of dinosaurs battling over prey.

Not every student is interested in being an artist, but every student is capable of being a dynamic, innovative creator. I strive to build an art program that encourages fun through exploration, play, messy materials and creative expression.

Tiny Village 2024

Tiny Village 2023

K-2 Heros and Villans

Second Grade Super Action Heros

Week of Apr. 25th, 2023

This week’s images are from our 4th-grade dioramas project. They feature miniature scenes from fictional stories written in Ms. Teague's classroom.

Week of Mar. 6th, 2023

Students of all grades have been working on superhero-themed projects this winter. Here are a few previews of some of the artwork they’ve created.

Week of Dec. 12th, 2022

Our Sac students created this collection of delightful winter characters in the final week before winter break. It came down to the wire, but they got it done!