Franziska Fennert

My approach to teaching art combines traditional studio practice with contemporary, student-centred learning methods. I believe that technical skills and creative thinking should develop alongside one another, enabling students to build both confidence and an individual artistic voice.

A core element of my teaching is observational drawing and painting from life. Working from the human figure, landscape, architecture, and still-life arrangements helps students develop accurate perception, an understanding of form, proportion, light, colour, and spatial relationships. More importantly, these exercises cultivate the ability to truly see, providing a foundation from which students can develop their own visual vocabulary rather than relying on formulas or digital references alone.

Alongside these classical approaches, I incorporate project-based learning, encouraging students to research themes, experiment with materials and processes, and reflect critically on their creative decisions. I view the studio as a place of exploration where technical practice, conceptual thinking, and cultural awareness inform one another.

In online teaching, I combine live demonstrations, guided studio sessions, individual feedback, and group critiques. Students are encouraged to document their process through sketchbooks or digital portfolios, supporting continuous reflection and development. Critique sessions foster constructive dialogue, helping students articulate their intentions while learning from diverse perspectives.

My aim is to create an inclusive and intellectually engaging learning environment in which students acquire strong technical foundations, develop confidence in experimentation, and gain the analytical skills necessary to communicate ideas through visual practice. Ultimately, I seek to prepare students to become independent, thoughtful artists who are capable of responding creatively and critically to the world around them.