A Personal (Art Historical)
Timeline
James Elam
ART844
Spring 2012
Formative Years
A math teacher in Jr. High saves
me from being behind a grade
level, and brings me up to
advanced level work.
I remember the names of only
two of my teachers prior to
college: both are art teachers.
I was shy and withdrawn, so I often drew. My drawings were based on
imagination, not the world around me. I was using symbolism before I knew
what it was. More about the idea than the aesthetic.
The Paleolithic Period
1972 -1980
The Archaic/Geometric Period
1980-1990
Born in San Antonio, Texas to two educators. Every night at the table, every single day of the
year, the discussion was about education. My summers were spent drawing and helping my
mother prep for the next year.
College
My parents tell
me to never be a
teacher.
I sneak about behind their
back to tutor people. I finally
tell them I want to be a
teacher.
There are two types of people in my
studio class. Those going to NYC, and
those who want to teach. I am the
latter, and I am the minority.
I become a painter. My work is surreal with a spiritual lean. I develop personal iconography.
Magritte guides my eye. My painting is fair, my ability to talk about my work is outstanding.
The Classical Period
1990-1992 Del Mar College
The Hellenistic Period
1992-1995 Texas A&M at Corpus Christi
Bachelors of Fine Arts with All Level Teacher
Certification
I met a girl.
First Teaching Job
Driven by something, I attend SCAD’s summer teacher
program. What I wanted was to learn, but what I got was
nearly being burned out on studio.
Artwork is now only done in the summers. My passion is teaching, but the ignored easel makes
me feel guilty. This is a problem for me.
The Romanesque Period
1995-2001
Teaching at South San West Campus High School, San Antonio, Texas
I met the right girl.
I married the right girl.
I share a career with the right girl.
I teach Art I and AP Drawing. I find that I love teaching noobs. What I want is to introduce and
hook students into something new to them.
Second Teaching Job
I begin to teach
AP Art History. It
in turn begins to
teach me.
I meet a Rabbi who uses
Futurama to teach Judiasm.
I learn something about
teaching.
I meet a woman who
asks questions to teach. I
learn something about
teaching.
I become an AP
Reader, and
become driven.
Artwork is now only done in the summers. My passion is teaching. I find myself thinking about
units and lesson plans like I used to think about painting.
The Renaissance Period
2001-2011
Teaching at Harker Heights High School, Harker Heights, Texas
I now travel the world, kayak, jog, and save the world (virtual and real) with the right girl.
I teach Art I and AP Art History. Art History becomes my passion. I continue to love to teach
noobs. I work hard to build a Mecca in my cultural desert. Every year I convert more of the
masses over to art.
Now
I am ready to pursue
formal education again.
I am ready to plan for my future, for when
High School is no longer the setting for me
(though I think it will be a long while).
I have finally grown comfortable with the idea that teaching is my passion and art production is
my hobby. It took me a long time to get over that block. I am learning that being “just a
teacher” is actually pretty awesome.
The Baroque Period
2012Teaching at Harker Heights High School, Harker Heights, Texas
I will continue to travel the world, kayak, jog, and save the world (virtual and real) with the right
girl. She is my inspiration and my support as I undertake this new task.
I am now the senior art teacher at a campus going through lots of changes. I worry about how
to protect my co-workers and my program, and how to best serve our students. I have no actual
authority, so this is mostly just worry with no recourse.