Amanda Tsao
Staff Writer
Costa’s new art and ceramics teacher Jennifer Mireles brings new expertise to the art department with her background in teaching drawing, painting, creative design, ceramics, art exploration, and glass fusing.
She earned her bachelors degree in Fine Arts from Humboldt State University and her teaching credential in Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach. She taught at Palos Verdes Intermediate School as their only art teacher for four years before teaching at Costa this year.
Mireles currently teaches three periods of ceramics and two periods of art. Her art classes focus on drawing and painting skills, using a variety of different mediums and materials. Mireles’ ceramics classes learn handbuilding skills, glazing and decorating techniques as well as how to throw on the potter’s wheel.
“While my art and ceramics classes are heavily focused on art production, I also integrate art history, criticism, and aesthetics into each project,” Mireles said.
According to Mireles, she is a passionate advocate of art. She has expressed that art is an important part of a well-rounded education because it teaches students to be creative and imaginative.
“Ms. Mireles takes the ceramics classes seriously but makes it fun by doing interesting projects that she’s really energetic about,” junior Morgan Reinagel said.
So far, the ceramics classes have been working with plaster and paper mache and are about to begin the first project of the year, making a pot. The art classes have been designing their portfolios and begun basic drawing exercises.
“We haven’t done much in the class so far but I’m sure once we start working with clay it’ll be really fun,” sophomore and ceramics student Hadley Thomas said.
Future projects for Mireles’ ceramics classes include pinch pots, coil pots, woven clay baskets from molds, introduction to using the potter’s wheel, slab constructed creative boxes, mugs, whistles, lidded jars, creative castles, and creative birdhouses.
“I am really looking forward to doing the castles, birdhouses, and, basket projects this year,” junior Phinah Leilua said. “We haven’t worked with any clay yet and I can’t wait to get started.”
Mireles’ goals for her students include gaining confidence in their artistic abilities along with a deeper appreciation for the fine arts. She wants her students to attain artistic skills that they can apply to other areas of interest and study.
“I hope that my students will love taking my art and ceramics classes and will continue to sign up for them,” Mireles said. “I hope my class will help students by engaging them in visual problem solving skills and creative thinking.”
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