About Maria Lan

Artist | Mentor

Teaching for Creativity and Innovation

After 15 years in public schools, I opened my own art studio with a clear purpose: to give children the time, guidance, and freedom to grow as artists—and learn to trust themselves.

I believe art education should do more than produce a beautiful painting. The creative process teaches children to think independently, work through difficult problems, embrace mistakes, and stand behind their own ideas. Those skills last long after the paint has dried.

I want my students to build a strong foundation in drawing, painting, composition, color theory, and observation. We go beyond templates and step-by-step projects. Students learn how to make thoughtful choices, experiment with possibilities, and create work that reflects who they are.

Whether a student is picking up a paintbrush for the first time or preparing a portfolio for advanced opportunities, my purpose remains the same: to develop their technical skill, strengthen their confidence, and give them the courage to bring their own ideas into the world.

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