“To teach is to learn twice.” Joseph Joubert

This summer, I had the privilege of teaching at the Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, Connecticut. After 29 years as a general elementary classroom teacher, I retired and began a new chapter of my life as a professional artist.

Retirement has given me an unexpected gift: the opportunity to bring together two parts of myself that I love—teaching and making art. I began by teaching mixed-media art and now teach encaustic painting, a medium that continually invites exploration, discovery, and play. Combining these roles has expanded my creative life in ways I never could have imagined and has multiplied my joy.

The French writer Joseph Joubert said, “To teach is to learn twice,” and I have found that to be deeply true. Teaching requires me to slow down, examine my own creative process, and put into words the decisions that often happen intuitively in the studio. Each class reminds me to look at familiar materials and techniques with fresh eyes.

One of the greatest rewards is watching students of every age become excited by something new. Their thoughtful questions often lead to discoveries of our own—sometimes the best answer is simply, “I don’t know. Let’s try it and see.” Those moments of shared experimentation are often where the real learning begins.

I love seeing students take a technique or idea introduced in class and transform it into something entirely their own. When artists are given the freedom to experiment, play, take risks, and follow their curiosity, they can create work that is surprising, personal, and beautiful.

Teaching encaustic is not only a way for me to share what I know; it is also an ongoing source of inspiration for my own practice. Every class reinforces what I have always believed: when we teach, we continue to learn.