I have been an elementary school art teacher for two decades. One of the first things I establish with my students during the first days of school  is that the art room is a safe place for free expression. No one can see things the way you do, and it is truly a gift to share your unique perspective. I believe this to my core; that we can learn so much from each other if we can express our essence without inhibition. Art is intimate, art is expressive, and children understand this intuitively. For this reason, teaching has been a source of growth and inspiration for my own work. I am awed by my students’ ability to create without judgment. I too aspire to create without preconceptions, to let my impulses take flight. In order to grow and provide inspiration for my students I need resources to draw from and learn from.