By KACEY D. RICHARD    

kdr011@latech.edu

 

Drawing is her passion. Teaching is her passion.

At a young age, Katherine Vellard knew she wanted to draw. She would write and illustrate her own books. In her college years, with a little push from her parents, she knew she wanted to teach, but to be named Higher Education Art Educator of the year, not once but twice, was far beyond her wildest dreams.

Vellard has been a professor at Tech since 1990, and teaches art from the freshmen to graduate student level, a seat she once sat in at Tech.

Vellard received the award from the Louisiana Art Education Association for the first time in 1998.

“I was just as honored today as I was in 1998,” Vellard said. “It meant a lot then and it means a lot now to have those encouraging you.”

Vellard has served as a representative for the board of higher education for North Louisiana for a number of years and attends conferences and conducts workshops for teachers.

“The 2008 conference will be at Louisiana Tech and I am really looking forward to hosting it,” Vellard said.

Denise Tullier-Holly, LAEA awards chair, said the organization is very pleased to have Vellard as one of its members.

“Teaching gives you direct contact and a sense of satisfaction after seeing someone grow and develop,” Vellard said.

Ed Pinkston, Vellard’s mentor, instilled a strong philosophy of teaching in her.

“He showed me to have a strong foundation and what to communicate to the student,” Vellard said.

Vellard received the Louisiana Division of Art Fellowship Award in 2003. In addition to her awards, she has also had 11 solo shows and about 50 national exhibits.

Vellard’s love for contemporary art found its way into her classroom this year when she incorporated a technique used by expressionist artist Alberto Giacometti as an exercise in class. 

Vellard said Mary Boothe, a senior art major, is one of the most talented artists she has seen since she became a teacher.

“She is that kind of teacher that gives me motivation to produce good work,” Boothe said.

Boothe also said Vellard is great at judging a student’s potential and then holding the individual to a personalized standard.

“I love her classes because of her honesty and frankness, but also because of her acknowledgement of our success,” Boothe said.

Jonathan Donehoo, director of the School of Art, said, “The entire school is really proud of her accomplishments, particularly this award. She is an excellent representative of the school.”