By Fernando Leiva
Written: November 3, 2023
What is your previous experience with art?
I started my career as a freelance photographer before becoming an educator. I had my own business. I worked for a lot of different production companies, like Oakley– I helped them build a photo studio years ago. I also worked in advertising and graphic design for twenty-plus years.
How did you transition to teaching?
After a while, my wife was like, “Hey you’re really good with our kids, you should really consider education.” I thought, “How hard could it be to teach art to kids?” Without knowing the extent of the effort that’s involved with becoming a teacher. So that’s kind of how it started. I worked for one year at a charter school in Highland Park near Dodger Stadium. Then I got hired by LA Unified and worked at San Fernando Middle School for eight years. Long story short, I put in a transfer request to Grant but couldn’t [fully move in here] until the beginning of this school year. Now I’m as happy as I can be, I feel like I can have some deep conversations with students who are looking to what’s coming next in their lives— college and discussing the future of their life’s work.
What’s your favorite thing about Grant?
I love the energy of the older classes, especially the 12th-grade students. I’ve built a rapport with all the students, but especially seniors because of their maturity. Second, the energy of the staff in the football games and watching volleyball tournaments— I love all of the enthusiasm.
In regards to art, is there any piece that really resonates with you?
Well, I am passionate about sailing and art. When I was in high school, I used to go fishing with my grandfather, so I became passionate about sailing. When I was in college, I did this copper carving of a fisherman:
And here’s some of my artwork from college:
So here with the charcoal— these kids look like they’re having the time of their lives. This is what I visualize joy to look like, but it can also be interpreted as what joy looks like to you. I don’t really like to draw realistic, I would rather draw something that’s abstract that isn’t trying to be something but is just an optical illusion.
Is there an artist that you look up to?
One of my all-time favorite realistic artists is Norman Rockwell– he was an illustrator for tThe Saturday Evening Post. As a kid, I would hang out in the library after school and flip through the pages of Norman Rockwell’s artworks. [They depict] Americana and an idealistic way of [American] life. After that, Frank Frazetta, I love that guy’s works, but they are more mythical-oriented, with creatures that don’t exist. In my class, when I have a featured artist, I try to showcase women and minorities, because they’re the least recognized in the art world. Usually, we’re talking about Rembrandt and Picasso, all European artists. There are far more artists than them. Art was taking place all over the world, and not just in Europe.
What values do you hope to instill in your students?
To think critically about their career paths. The choices you make now matter. You make good choices, good follows, and vice versa. I’m also trying to get students to consider what might be their life’s work. I’m not trying to make artists but to instill creativity because you can apply creativity in all areas of your life. Not just making pretty pictures— I don't care about the product, I care about the process.
What would you say to someone who is struggling to channel their creativity? Not necessarily in art.
Just to keep going, keep at it. Like music, you learn to play music by playing the instrument. The same thing applies to drawing, we practice, we practice, and we practice.
Fun Facts!
Do you have a favorite TV show?
Probably Breaking Bad, I binge-watched it. I saw the first episode, and I was hooked. Partly because it is from the point of view of a high school teacher, and I’m a high school teacher.
If you could have a conversation with any one person, who and why?
Jesus Christ, because I have a lot of questions. I would love to sit down and have a heart-to-heart. Not that I don’t do that sort of mentally, but it’s not the same as in person.
Any bucket list item you’d like to complete?
I want to sail my boat to Hawaii, the Marquises, or Fiji— the South Pacific. I’m a sailor, I’ve been sailing my whole life. During Covid, I lived on YouTube looking at other people living this sailing lifestyle, so I bought a 42-foot bluewater boat in Santa Barbara. And I said you know what, “If you look for anything you’ll find it. I’m not going to wait until I retire, I’m gonna start living my best life now.”
Does your boat have a name?
Yes— Alegria, which means happiness or joy, which is ironic because the theme for the student art show is joy. On Friday nights, I really look forward to heading to my boat, crashing there overnight, and waking up to the sound of the seagulls— that brings me joy.
How did you get into sailing?
I’ve been sailing since I was eighteen. It started with my parents not allowing us to do anything over the summer, so L.A. County Parks and Rec had a course for kayaking— which was closed. But the sailing class was open, and I fell in love with sailing, especially small boats in Marina Del Rey.
Finally, what is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
Life is a journey, and everyone is on their own track. Everyone has a path going forward. Also, one of the best life lessons I’ve learned— this is more about marriage but it still applies to life— your marriage is like a garden. You have to water and nurture it. When weeds come up, pull the weeds. You are the author of your life and in charge of what is going to happen next. So just keep turning the page.
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