Relevant Art Education

Throughout high school, class often focus on just doing gray scale, then doing a gray scale still life. Or using impressionistic dots to form a painting of a landscape.

Students need challenges, students need to be able to relate to their art.

At Mill Street Loft in Poughkeepsie, NY, Todd Poteet challenged his students not only to explore their materials and develop skills, but to think for themselves and do projects that the student designs.
Students are given broad ideas or themes to expand upon. Yes, he does make us think out the entire composition first, and discusses why. But, in all it does give more freedom, while also developing skills.

Some classes he even has the students pick their theme for a series. Such as Ksenia's series of keys.