Bio.
Artist and Educator
Hi friends! My name is Jena Fleischmann and I am an aspiring artist and art educator from Maumee, OH. I have recently graduated from Bowling Green State University in December of 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education. My purpose and passion in life is to spread my love for the arts to the next and/or current generation.
My passion for the arts started as early as elementary school. I didn’t think I was any good at art at the time, but I knew I loved it and would practice it anyway. I remember doing sketches of my cat napping after school and I couldn’t wait to show my art teacher at school. She was so impressed with me! I also remember her choosing my art projects to place on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria where everyone could see in the hallway. At an early age, I recognized that art made me feel the happiest.
Fast forward to middle school and I, somehow, lost my interest in art for a bit. I wasn’t scheduled to take any art classes from 6th-8th grade so my passion for art didn’t develop until my sophomore year in high school.
Up until sophomore year of high school, I didn't think I had any special talents. I clearly remember a conversation I had with my parents. We were in the car at a stoplight, heading home from dinner. It was in the evening and my parents kept talking about my two brothers hobbies. I said, “Johno is into music, Jace is into sports, what about me? What am I good at? What makes me special?” My mom responded to me, “Well, you’re good at art!” Funny enough, that’s what made me realize that art is my “thing.” Art is my purpose in life.
I also give credit to my art teachers throughout my school career, especially Mr. Abel. I had Mr. Abel all throughout high school as my art teacher. He was the first teacher that I noticed to really care and bond with his students. He would laugh with them, counsel them, and really speak about art with passion. I remember when he forced me to enter into a local art show for high school students. He said, “if you don’t enter into this art show, I’m failing you.” Me being naive, I took him seriously and entered into it. I definitely expected to not get in, but I did it anyway. To my surprise, two out of my five artworks got into the show. It was difficult enough to get one artwork into an art show, but two of mine were accepted! It made me think to myself, “Wow! Maybe my artwork really isn’t that bad! Maybe I really do have talent!” Mr. Abel was the teacher that really saw the talent in me and made me realize it myself.
That is exactly the art teacher I aspire to be. I want to be the teacher that gives students a healthy outlet to create their stresses away. I want to be the teacher that gives students a purpose to live when they don’t feel special enough. I want to be that teacher that students look forward to talking to when they don’t have anyone else to go to. I want to be the teacher that inspires students to advocate for the arts for their peers and future generations.