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Everyone has that one childhood memory they can point to and say, “Yep, that’s the one.”

That pivotal moment that sparked inspiration, intrigue, a hunger and desire to learn more. Where stepping through the doorway opened by that ah-ha moment sets light to a perpetual fire in the belly that translates to the pursuit of mastery. 

It was a series of related moments – infused with the vibe and excitement like that felt in those catalytic ah-ha moments – that sparked Hope Elementary School art teacher Jessica Seelye’s lifelong love affair with art.

As a child, she readily set off with paint brush in hand painting happy little trees and majestic mountains in stilted play/pause… play/pause fashion via aged VHS episodes of the iconic, late painter Bob Ross recorded by her Granny for the purpose of the elder student's own learning to master his approach and technique. 

Like the oil paintings of happy trees that emerged from a blank canvas, Seelye's desire to explore art was simply a happy consequence of early and regular exposure to art and the creative process, she says.  

In August 2023, Seelye entered the classroom at Hope Elementary as art teacher for the first time. She describes the experience as "like coming home" as she settles into her new role with the support of her husband, Chris, and their adopted children Gwendolyn, 4, Harley, 5, and Nariah, 6.    

Close to completing her graduate work in children’s and family ministry at Bethel Seminary, 36-year-old Seelye took a few minutes from her busy schedule to talk about how the journey has been pursuing a career that is more passion than work with a family of her own.  

Seelye discusses what it means to her to take chances, to be persistent in the face of adversity, and how art is not only fun and therapeutic, but a powerful tool that can be used to unlock creativity and instill the tools children need to be successful in both academia and life.  

HSJ: What is it about art that keeps you going, but in a way that you never seem to tire of?  

JS: I think, for me, when it comes to doing art, it is a way you can express yourself and your feelings in a way that maybe words can’t explain. It is therapeutic. It is comforting and calming. There’s been so many kids who say, ‘I love art just because I get to relax.’ It is a way where you can be yourself and there aren’t as many rules. It isn’t like math and science where there is a specific formula to it. You get to add your own creative spin and it is a way of you being able to show people how you see the world. And it looks a little bit different through everybody’s eyes; so, it is a way you can actually see how others view things and how their perception is of the world that they’re in.

HSJ: Did you always envision yourself teaching art?

JS: I’ve always wanted to, but I didn’t think this was going to be a possibility, especially because there are a lot of schools who don’t prioritize art programs. That is one of the things I appreciate about Hope Elementary – they appreciate the arts. And it is important to them that it is solid education, that it is fun, engaging and that everyone gets to participate in it. And I’ve just felt this freedom of being able to teach that I didn’t think I would ever really get to have.

HSJ: How do you deal with the naysayers? The ones who argue that art is of no substance.

JS: I haven’t really experienced it a ton. What people come up against is more of the, ‘I wish I could do that…,’ ‘I wish I could try that.’ For me, my encouragement is, ‘Why not?’ You can always go try. 

Some of the things I have learned how to do was simply by watching YouTube just like Granny did with Bob Ross on VHS. I think if you go into it and just not have a failure mentality – like it is OK to fail at something and to learn. It opens a whole other box of ways you can be creative and try new things and you might be surprised at what you are actually good at.

HSJ: You’ve become involved with the Student’s Fund of Hope as a volunteer in recent months helping out with art offerings, like afternoon canvas paints and art camps. How is it going?

JS: As of right now, one of the things I’m recognizing is that there is a financial gap. So, paying for a club or art classes, I’m finding - especially for families - is kind of tough, especially in the economy we’re in right now. It is a matter of finding a way where we can do these kinds of classes and things where it isn’t coming out of the pockets of families. The Student’s Fund is really interested in paying for the supplies and hosting the club, but the other part I wanted was to help support them, as well. I didn’t want it to drain them, I wanted it to help fuel them, so it is figuring out what that balance is. The school board has approved an art club for next year for the school, though.

HSJ: Was the school art club pitch your brainchild?
JS: Yeah, I pitched the idea out there and said, ‘Hey, can we do this?’ And the board approved it. And, so, now it’s how do we start implementing an art club at Hope Elementary to where it would be free for children to participate, but also offering some programing outside of the school program, as well, like through the Student’s Fund of Hope after school and on the weekends?

HSJ: What aspect of art really draws you and how do you break through creative blocks or burnout?

JS: I think for me, it is helping kids, and even adults, understand there is always an ugly stage to a painting, and it’s how do you push through that mental boundary of, ‘I can’t do this…’ or ‘This isn’t looking like the way that I want’? because those skills can actually be transferable outside of painting. 

When you hit something that feels like it is impossible, or something that just isn’t working the way you want it to, how can you mentally look at what you are doing and get a different perspective on it? To be able to push forward to complete whatever it is you are doing?

For me, it is constantly trying to find something new to paint or something new to draw. It is finding that way of challenging yourself. I firmly believe everybody is creative and has the ability to create. It is a matter of unlocking it and finding that niche of yours where you can sit in that sweet spot. It might be painting, crocheting, pottery, writing. You don’t know until you actually try.

HSJ: What have you found to be the easiest art lesson to teach kids?

JS: A lot of it for them is seeing progress. Sharpies are their best friend. Anytime you outline something in black, it kind of makes it pop and it shows some of the details better. For instance, we did a pop art Santa, and the kids were just surprised as they were drawing it. They were drawing it in pieces. When they saw the pieces come together and they saw, ‘I actually drew Santa, with all these lines and squiggles!’ They were so excited, ‘Look at what I did! I actually made this!’

I really think the secret is allowing them to be their age, so letting kindergarten art look like kindergarten art and not expecting them to have perfect paintings, because they are learning. They are in kindergarten. And, then, really challenging the older ones, for them to take their time. I think that is one of the biggest challenges for them is sitting down and actually focusing on one thing for more than a 20-minute period. I think it is trying different mediums, things they enjoy. For me, it is finding out, 'What is it that interests you?' I can then create an art program that is fun and where you are getting to learn the elements of art at the same time.

HSJ: What do you do when you aren’t doing art?

JS: I love to read. I like to have some quiet time in the morning. I love my coffee. I love my Jesus time in the morning before my kiddos get up. But, for the rest of the time, it is playing with my kids. We prayed for kids for 13 years. We had all three kids dropped in our home within a month and a half of each other and went from zero kids to three kids in 2019 – right before COVID. They were 22 months, 8 months and NICU at that time. It’s been being a mom. It’s been an answered prayer and dream of mine to get to be a mom. And getting to know their biological families, as well.

HSJ: What are your plans once you complete your graduate work?

JS: As of right now, I’m not sure. It’s probably going to be consulting with churches and working with kids’ and family ministries, I’ve done that for 13 years, so it is kind of figuring out how I can come alongside the church community in Hope. I’ve thought about doing some after school clubs, kind of like Good News clubs used to be but more art-focused.

HSJ: Looking ahead to the future of local art programing, what do you anticipate?

JS: This is my niche and where I’m wanting to call home for a while. I’ve a lot of exciting projects coming up. I’m excited about finding ways to partner with the community, especially with the art club – like how could we actually make a difference with art in the community? And shedding a light on the importance of having art in our schools and programming. I would love to see something going during the summer, so it is figuring out what that looks like.