About

“Here we expect progress, not perfection…”

I am an artist, art teacher, runner, track/cross country coach, student, music lover, animal fan… etc.

I currently serve as the middle/ high school art teacher at Neuse Charter School in Smithfield, NC, and am lucky to have a job I enjoy so much. My goal is to fire up every student that walks into my classroom — to make an investment in art regardless of ability level, and to end the semester with a life-long appreciation for visual culture and creative thinking. Working with students in grades 6-12, I revel in the chance to enlighten beginner students who think they “can’t draw” as well as hone the skills of advanced students who are aiming for a career in the arts.

Outside of school I like to create projects of my own design and am particularly fond of drawing with oil pastels and painting on non-traditional surfaces (such as furniture, jeans, and walls). I also do commissioned work for people seeking murals, paintings, portraits, illustrations, face paintings, and graphic designs.

Life has given me many wonderful experiences so far and I have been fortunate to have lived in a variety of places— Bethlehem, PA (for the first 22 years of my life as a student), Philadelphia, PA (as a high school art teacher for 2 years), Manhattan, NY (working at a specialty running store and as a running coach for 1 year), and now Smithfield, North Carolina.

I hope you enjoy my blog, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions/ commission requests!

Best,

Molly Chopin Layton

mollylayton1@gmail.com