From computer science teacher to art teacher

Bonus: ✨ Free Creativity Meditation ✨

Last week I taught a “How to Watercolor Workshop.” We covered the basics of brush strokes, core techniques like “wet on wet” vs “wet on dry” techniques, how to create a gradient, and color theory. 

While I was designing this workshop, I had a flashback to myself 10 years ago. At the time, I co-founded a coding program for kids. I was teaching computer science through project-based learning.

I didn’t study computer science in college, so I was learning how to code as I taught kids how to code. I loved learning and teaching, but never felt fully connected to computer science.

Flash forward 10 years. I’m writing my own curriculum, teaching hundreds of adults and kids all over again. This time, I’m teaching something I love more than anything- art.

If you told my 10-year-old self I would be an art teacher, she would have believed you. But if you told my 20-year-old self the same thing, she would have laughed. It’s wild how much can change in 10 years.

Yes, I still make that same face when I paint 😅

I loved art growing up, but lost touch with my creative side slowly over the years.

A few years ago, that all changed. During a particularly gloomy covid winter, I decided to paint watercolor a day for 100 days. This challenge truly changed my life and I quit my job after 4 months of picking up a paintbrush.

Now, I’ve been doing art full time for 2.5 years!

In January, I decided to design Climate Art 101 to help people tap into their creativity while learning how to use art as a tool for climate communication. I wanted to incorporate my years of education background into a holistic learning experience for adults. I thought about how I learned to make climate art, broke down those skills, and reverse engineered a curriculum around those best practices. 

The core part of the program is a Creative 30 Challenge. This means creating 30 minutes of art, daily for 30 days. Other pieces of the curriculum include:

• 10 recorded climate art workshops

• 5 guided creativity meditations

• Access to a community of climate creatives (my favorite part!!)

• Monthly Community Calls to share work, get feedback, and set creative goals

• Exercises to use art to decrease climate anxiety

I have such a ~proud teacher moment~ when I see the art my students create in the class. During the first cohort, students made over 150+ pieces of climate art. 

The next cohort kicks off on Monday, September 16! You can save 25% if you register by Thursday. Learn more here and feel free to email me with any questions!

I truly can’t wait for the next cohort to begin. I'll be working alongside this group to write a children's book about climate solutions in 30 days! I can’t wait to see what this cohort creates! 

Nicole 

Reflection Question

What would your 10-year-old self think of what you are doing today?

One of my creativity meditations focuses on visualizing your future creative self. Here is a free download! It helps you imagine your most creative self in 3 months, 1 year, and 10 years from now.

Upcoming events

• What if We Get it Right? by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson book launch party! I’ll have a giant coloring table at her launch party at the Brooklyn Museum. The event sounds so fun- it will have music, poetry, hula hooping and comedy! I’ve been reading a galley and it is fantastic. Sept 17 at 6pm. RSVP here or pre-order a book here.

• Mothers out Front: I’m hosting a bunch of free workshops with Mothers Out Front in the next few months.

  • Creative Calm: free virtual workshop designed to help mothers, caregivers, and their kids channel their climate concerns into creative expression. Sept 13 at 12pm EST. RSVP here

  • Creative Kids Corner at Climate Week NYC: While mothers and caregivers participate in an electric school bus discussion, kids of all ages are invited to engage in a creative activity with me! Sept 24 at 5:30pm. RSVP here for

• Engage and Transform - A Gathering of Artists and Innovators in Climate. I’ll be showcasing my art at this event with other climate artists, filmmakers and technologists. Sept 25th at 6:30pm. RSVP here

• VERGE conference in SF! I’ll be doing a climate art workshop. If you’re in SF, shoot me a note. Oct 29-31. Get tickets here.