Paula Liz

I’m so excited to share that I FINALLY finished a painting this past week that I started over a year ago! 😅

'Welcome Home.' Oil and collage on Panel. 20"x16"

NAEA seeks nominations for Middle Level and Supervision and Administration Division Commissioners on the NAEA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Commission. Nominations are due by May 19! Learn more here: www.arteducators.org/equity-diver...

Community Puppets: Unit Plan, PPT, Handouts, Rubrics, Resources, and More! Students will explore the important roles that community helpers play in our daily lives. Through class discussions and creative thinking, they will choose a community helper they admire-such as a fir...

I recently completed a comprehensive unit plan for my Community Puppets lesson, which I have received many questions about over the years. If you're looking for a fun and creative project for your classroom, I invite you to check it out: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Comm...

On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Prior to this order, the U.S. Department of Education announced mass layoffs, firing approximately 1,300 staff members.

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I’m so grateful that this book is making a difference in the world.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey! Let's continue to imagine and create the change we need in the world. 💖

At a time when diverse voices and history are being systemically erased in museums across the U.S., it’s reassuring to know that some institutions still recognize the importance of amplifying diverse voices and artists. Representation matters. These stories matter.

It’s incredibly rewarding to know the amazing artists featured in this book have their stories showcased in such a monumental space.

Life is full of highs and lows, but today I want to share a highlight that truly made my heart soar.

Someone sent me a photo of "Be A Creative Changemaker" on display at the Tate Modern and I couldn’t be more honored! 🥰

No matter what they say, we must not be silenced. As art educators, we have the power and responsibility to teach the WHOLE truth.

When we tell the truth — when we showcase the full spectrum of those who created, shaped culture, and made history — those who have long held power often feel threatened.

Now, just as institutions have recently begun to correct these historical omissions, this executive order seeks to reverse that progress.

Be a Creative Changemaker: A Kids' Art Activity Book Be a Creative Changemaker: A Kids' Art Activity Book introduces kids to 25 amazing artists through their biographies and hands-on activities inspired by their work.

This motivation inspired me to write "Be a Creative Changemaker," which aims to provide kids and teachers access to some of the artists and stories I never had growing up. www.quarto.com/books/978076...

That absence of representation stayed with me. It drove me to become an art educator committed to changing the traditional art history narrative. I made it my mission to include artists from the global majority in every lesson, even when resources were limited.

In college, I was introduced to the work of Pepon Osorio, a Puerto Rican artist whose powerful installations are now featured in the Smithsonian — in the very exhibition this executive order tries to undermine.

I remember going to the library and searching online for more information, specifically about Puerto Rican artists, but I found nothing. This was only 20 years ago.

It wasn't until high school that I discovered a Latina artist, Frida Kahlo, which changed everything for me. It was the first time I encountered someone whose identity even slightly resembled mine in the art world.

I know what that erasure feels like. As a child, I never saw myself reflected in the artists I learned about. The art displayed in classrooms and the content in books consistently implied that artists did not look or think like me.

It seeks to revert us to a version of history where only certain voices are allowed to speak and only specific stories are told. This is not about "sanity"; it is about erasing and silencing the full truth.

NAEA Signs on to Department of Education Protection Act: www.arteducators.org/advocacy-pol...

📌‼️‼️UPDATE 2: After initially restoring our website, Google has yet again removed pages. Since our website was built as a Google Site, we are looking into alternatives. We will likely need help in the process. Please join our mailing list for updates.‼️‼️

I shared an update that our presentation links to the URL for the Me & White Supremacy book, which appears to have been taken over by a phishing site. This is why Google "flagged" it even in a personal acct. If your acc is owned by an org (ie. school) they can flag items to remove on their own

I hope that art teachers will find this book to be a valuable resource for honoring these remarkable artists by amplifying their stories and introducing their work to students in the classroom.

Who are some of your favorite women artists to share with students? Share them in the comments below!

Be a Creative Changemaker: A Kids' Art Activity Book Be a Creative Changemaker: A Kids' Art Activity Book introduces kids to 25 amazing artists through their biographies and hands-on activities inspired by their work.

While you may not recognize all their names, these artists transformed history and paved the way for others. In writing their biographies, my goal was to share their stories in a way that honors their legacies while also making them relatable and understandable for young artists today.

This International Women's Day, let's celebrate the many incredible women artists whose stories have too often been overlooked in art curriculums. In writing "Be a Creative Changemaker" I wanted to highlight a few of these groundbreaking creatives. Out of the 25 artists featured, 17 are women.

I helped to create the Drawing Differences program in collaboration with EmbraceRace along with other amazing arts educators Khadesia Latimer and Libya Doman. If you have used the Drawing Differences program in your classroom, I would love to hear how it went!

I used these hand-drawn picture frames for students to create portraits of one another as part of the Drawing Differences program. This program is designed to address the underrepresentation of diverse characters in children's drawings. Access it for FREE! www.embracerace.org/community/dr...

Someone recently asked about a resource I created a few years ago, & I finally got around to uploading it to my TpT store! These frames are perfect for displaying artwork, self-portraits, art centers, & more. www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hand...

🎨 MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NCAS
The National Coalition for Arts Standards (NCAS) is launching its first review of National Arts Standards in over a decade, examining standards across all artistic disciplines —dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.

UPDATE 2: Our presentation links to the URL for the Me And White Supremacy book, which appears to have been taken over by a phishing site.No information as to why our website pages were taken down; we will share more details once we receive it.