About Maria Lan

Artist | Mentor

Teaching for Creativity and Innovation

For nearly two decades, I've had the privilege of teaching children through art. Along the way, I've discovered that the most meaningful lessons have very little to do with producing a beautiful painting.

The creative process teaches children how to think for themselves, solve difficult problems, embrace mistakes, and trust their own ideas. Those are the skills that last long after the paint has dried.

I don't teach templates, crafts, or step-by-step projects. Instead, I teach strong artistic foundations, including drawing, painting, composition, color theory, and observation, while encouraging every student to make thoughtful decisions and create work that reflects who they are.

Whether a child is just beginning or preparing for advanced portfolios and competitions, my goal is the same: to help each student develop confidence, technical skill, and the courage to create something uniquely their own.

The painting is simply evidence of that journey.

Art Teaches Critical Thinking

My teaching is grounded in the belief that children learn best when they are trusted to think, explore, and make meaningful choices. Rather than copying an example, students learn to observe carefully, experiment, revise, and solve creative challenges independently.

My approach is informed by the Studio Habits of Mind, a research-based framework from Harvard Department of Education that emphasizes observation, persistence, reflection, craftsmanship, and creative thinking. These habits help students become not only stronger artists, but more thoughtful learners.

Small class sizes allow me to meet every student where they are, offering individualized guidance while encouraging each child to develop their own creative voice.

Credentials

  • B.A. in Fine Art

  • M.A. in Education

  • Certified K-12 Art Educator

  • Over 18 years of teaching experience in public and private education

Exhibitions

  • Inheritance Solo Window Exhibition, Studio Montclair Windows 127, Montclair, NJ, 2026

  • Things We Carry Group Exhibition, Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ, 2025

  • Group Exhibition Sophia Stef Gallery, Lambertville, NJ, 2025