About

A man standing inside an art display booth under a white canopy, with art of fish, insects, and other animals mounted on foam boards displayed on the walls, and a sign with the name Will Thompson Woodart.

Experience

Art and education have been the two defining passions of my career. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from Marymount University and have spent more than a decade developing, exhibiting, and selling my artwork. My work has been featured at live art events including Art on the Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Arlington Festival of the Arts.

My background in education spans more than ten years. Before transitioning into art education, I spent six years working in special education, an experience that shaped my approach to teaching and reinforced my belief in individualized, student-centered instruction. For the past four years, I have worked as a lead art teacher in private and international schools, teaching students across a range of ages and skill levels.

Alongside my classroom teaching, I have had the opportunity to work individually with young artists who are eager to develop their skills and explore their creative interests. I have taught both in-person and online, adapting each lesson to the student's experience, goals, and interests.

My goal is to help students develop strong artistic foundations while giving them the skills and confidence to pursue their own creative ideas.

A man smiling and wearing a hat, standing in a sculpture workshop surrounded by unfinished sculptures and art supplies. He is touching one of the large wooden statues of a man and woman.

Family

A smiling man and woman with their arms around each other, taking a selfie outdoors with mountains in the background.

My family is an important part of who I am and what I do. I’m fortunate to share my life with my wife and our two daughters, who continue to be a source of inspiration and perspective.

Teaching Philosophy

A person drawing a fantasy creature on a sketchpad, with an open art book displaying a 3D creature sculpture propped up on a wooden easel in front of the artist. There are other artworks on the wall behind the artist, and art supplies on the desk.

I believe education is most effective when it is individualized to the needs, strengths, and learning style of each student, rather than built around a single approach. My years working in special education have taught me to adapt my instruction thoughtfully, meeting students where they are and helping them build confidence as they develop their skills.

Artistic Inspiration

A person holding an open sketchbook with detailed botanical drawings of various plants and flowers. Behind, a garden with tall plants and white flowering seed pods.

I have had the privilege of being able to travel and live abroad in many different countries. From Switzerland, to Thailand, I have experienced what it means to be an artist in a range of different contexts. Culture, zoology, architecture, anatomy and philology, and story telling have all been areas I have enjoyed exploring in my work. My greatest contemporary influences are Claire Wendling, Peter Han, James Jean, and Gary Villarreal.

Stance on Generative AI

Hand-drawn sketches of various sci-fi robot or spaceship parts, including weaponry, mechanical components, and structural pieces, numbered from 1 to 5.

All artwork displayed on this site is created by me without the use of generative AI. I believe that the process of drawing, experimenting, making mistakes, and developing ideas by hand is an essential part of being human.