Bubbly teacher makes art approachable
Juliana O'Neill
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Arts
A typical art room contains tables, stools and an assortment of paints. Assistant Professor of Art Barbary Bushey strolls into her Design class and stands in the middle of the room.
With a pencil behind her ear, she causally begins conversing with her class. After explaining her plans for that day's class, she instructs her class to move to the next room for a lecture.
"But if you're in the middle of some critical mixing process, come to the lecture when you've finished," Bushey says. "And afterwards, those of you who are done can skip on your merry way!"
From the causal atmosphere of her classroom to her intense energy, colorful facial expressions and sporadic hand movements, it's easy to see why Bushey's students love her.
"I really like her attitude. She's so enthusiastic about everything. She gets so into it," sophomore Mary Claire Andwood said. "She's really open to help develop your skills and she makes art very approachable. She's so much fun and bubbly. She's brilliant!"
Bushey has taught at Hillsdale for seven years. She teaches drawing and design, along with a multitude of art history classes.
"When I first came here, it was for a one-year replacement position," Bushey said. "And then they asked me to stick around one more year, and then another year and another."
Her students love her classes because of the relaxing atmosphere that surrounds Bushey.
"This is a class that someone told me my freshman year to take from Dr. Bushey. It has been worth it. She is very lively in class and it's never boring," senior Esther Terry said. "It has been therapeutic to see the world in a new way and have a different approach to reality."
During class, students mixed colors and Bushey lectured on the difference between proportion and scale.
"We approach art from its basic components and see how they all fit together," Terry said. "Our final project will be putting all these elements together."
Aside from Bushey's extensive expertise on art and art history, students also enjoy her teaching style.
With a pencil behind her ear, she causally begins conversing with her class. After explaining her plans for that day's class, she instructs her class to move to the next room for a lecture.
"But if you're in the middle of some critical mixing process, come to the lecture when you've finished," Bushey says. "And afterwards, those of you who are done can skip on your merry way!"
From the causal atmosphere of her classroom to her intense energy, colorful facial expressions and sporadic hand movements, it's easy to see why Bushey's students love her.
"I really like her attitude. She's so enthusiastic about everything. She gets so into it," sophomore Mary Claire Andwood said. "She's really open to help develop your skills and she makes art very approachable. She's so much fun and bubbly. She's brilliant!"
Bushey has taught at Hillsdale for seven years. She teaches drawing and design, along with a multitude of art history classes.
"When I first came here, it was for a one-year replacement position," Bushey said. "And then they asked me to stick around one more year, and then another year and another."
Her students love her classes because of the relaxing atmosphere that surrounds Bushey.
"This is a class that someone told me my freshman year to take from Dr. Bushey. It has been worth it. She is very lively in class and it's never boring," senior Esther Terry said. "It has been therapeutic to see the world in a new way and have a different approach to reality."
During class, students mixed colors and Bushey lectured on the difference between proportion and scale.
"We approach art from its basic components and see how they all fit together," Terry said. "Our final project will be putting all these elements together."
Aside from Bushey's extensive expertise on art and art history, students also enjoy her teaching style.
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