Paula King
Paula King’s teaching experience spans three decades of art instruction, which includes teaching courses on traditional studio art media and digital photography. Recognized for innovative teaching methods, Paula was energized by the challenge posed by distance learning and online education, therefore, she became a leader and innovator in online Art instruction at ACC in 2001. With a passion for promoting student success in online learning spaces, Paula builds art courses using best practices in course design and student-centered instruction. She continues to improve the experience of online education through research and training, designing engaging art courses to Quality Matters Standards, and encouraging and supporting fellow instructors as a certified Quality Matters Peer Course Reviewer. Her ongoing professional research includes studies of ancient Puebloan art, architecture, history, and culture in Four Corners or the Colorado Plateau, as well as Mesoamerican culture, art, and architecture, and Mudejar design. She holds an BA in Studio Art and Art History from The University of Texas at Austin, an MS in Studio Art and Art History from Texas A&M Kingsville, and an MFA in Studio Art and Art History from Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico. Paula’s favorite pastimes and interests include travel, visiting museums, genealogy, research, archaeology, hiking, yoga, spending time with her family and granddaughters, instructional design, educational technology, andragogy, painting, drawing, and art history!
Courses Taught
ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation
Faculty Spotlight
What do you most hope students will take away from your class?
A new-found confidence for looking at art.
How do you approach students who find creating or studying art difficult?
Tap into the creativity that they already possess, but do not recognize or acknowledge, not yet.
What is your favorite technique or topic to teach? Is there one lecture or selection that is the most fun for you to teach?
Drawing and watercolor
What skills and abilities make a good teacher?
I’m a life-long learner. Enthusiasm! Empathy.
What is an early experience with art or a specific artwork that made you decide to pursue a career in the arts? How has that experience shaped you and/or how do you view art differently now?
The hook for me was when I was a student of Charles Umlauf, at UT Austin. It was his passion for teaching and art-making. Other great teachers drew me in too.
Is there another medium or area of research that you have always wanted to explore?
Archaeology; filmmaking!
How would you describe your workspace? How has your practice changed during quarantine?
More projects! Deeper appreciation for nature, which is always in perfect harmony.
What types of books do you read? What are you reading now and/or what is one of the most treasured books on your bookshelf?
Lots and lots of MODERN Art books! I’m designing and building a Modern ART class, now!
Name a place that you’ve traveled to, but feel like you need to go back to because you didn’t have enough time there.
Spain. Hawaii. Morocco.
What do you like to do for fun?
TRAVEL!
Is there something that only people that know you really well would know?
I love to surf.
If there was one artwork that you could bring home and display during this period of quarantine, what would it be?
William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s The Elder Sister (1869). It shows the seeking of peace and beauty only found in the pastoral, the perfect love of sisters, and the comfort and balance found in nature.
What are the benefits of making or studying art? How does this personally affect you and/or what is art’s role in society?
It’s everything. It’s my life. Its value is my everyday lesson in the living.
If you could study under or interact with any living or historical artist, who would it be?
Did that. I call them my friends.
Describe some of your former projects, do you see a common thread that connects them?
Relationship building and course building for 40 years. They are connected by people, art, and education.
What is your superpower?
Love.
How do you most make an impact?
Showing up. Caring. Listening
How would you describe our current moment in art?
Sharing.
What do you think Austin and/or ACC is uniquely placed to offer?
Pathways.