Melanie Ries

I was born and raised in Sacramento, California. My love for art started at a very young age, I loved getting to try new things and always looked forward to visiting galleries and museums. I grew up surrounded by teachers, as I was always spending time at the preschool my mother worked at.

I have a BA in Art Education from CSUS, which I obtained after getting three AA degrees in art studio, art history, as well as arts and culture, all from Sierra College. I am currently coming to the end of my final semester to get my MAT in Art Education at the Academy of Art University. I will also be getting my Teaching Credential so I can start my career teaching middle and high school students about art.

For my Capstone Project I constructed a documentary about myself as an artist and educator. I give viewers a background on my start as an artist and why I started my journey of going to college for art education. I provide a look into myself and what I value when it comes to art and art education. I maintain a steady flow between artist and educator, relating them back to each other, as they go hand in hand for me.

For myself and for my students, I prioritize the process over the product, and make sure to empathize with the importance of a growth mindset. Art is an asset for everyone in building up one’s voice, providing opportunities for self-expression, and for strengthening life skills. Life skills such as creative and critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving as well as reflection.