An expert in calligraphy, a very talented singer, and an outstanding teacher; Laura Krentz teaches visual communications, advanced drawing, painting, and 2d art at La Porte High School. She has helped to transform the lives of many students through creativity and expression. This is why she is a La Porte County Life in the Spotlight.
"I took piano lessons to start with. Also everybody enjoyed singing in my family. At Indiana University I studied voice for enjoyment but I was an art major." Krentz said.
Krentz seems to be very influenced with singing by her family. Just like everybody else, Krentz has to evoke time management.
"You learn how much time a project will take. When I sing it is usually for a musical, and I sang the National Anthem at the South Bend Silver Hawks game. Singing is something you can practice on your own, and it was in the summer time. It takes six to eight weeks to prepare a musical; you have to clear your schedule," Krentz recounted.
"The beginning level classes anybody can take them and enjoy them, in the advanced classes they would have to want to do it, kind of like putting somebody on varsity at that point," Mrs. Krentz said.
Some people differ in values of skill and talent. Krentz has her own grasp on the idea.
"I think it’s a combination. Talent is your natural ability and there are skills you can learn along with that. The creativity part makes your work special. Almost like music and instruments you have to have some feeling, dynamics and emphasis," Krentz said.
Krentz, like every other teacher sometimes has difficulties dealing with students that become easily discouraged.
"A lot of students don't have enough patience with themselves, too many times they think they should be able to create a masterpiece right away but they have to learn. No one is a expert. Everybody is so used to being able to push a button, but art and everything else should take time and thought. With cell phones students don't see the value of communicating through art," Krentz voiced.
Krentz also has developed a way of dealing with a problem she might encounter with a student.
"Usually I manage to solve the problem; it may also not be right away. I’ll talk it over with a colleague and see if they have had the same situation and see what they do and usually it works out, I’m not afraid to ask for help if I’m having a problem with a student. Sometimes another person's perspective is exactly what you need. In teaching the golden rule always applies: I always ask myself what I would need if I had this problem. Some people learn by seeing and some people learn by hearing to spark their creativity. When it comes time to read a chapter I like to have one group read one section and become an expert on it and then the whole class shares their information, and that's how we do it in art, we want it to be fun and not overwhelming,” Krentz said.
Krentz then touched on her definition of a masterpiece.
"I think the term masterpiece is implied by others who view your masterpiece. I don't think they know it is a masterpiece when the artist is working on it. I think a masterpiece is something that withstands the test of time. When artists draw they just do it to communicate and to please themselves," Krentz said.
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