Kalen Thornton

Art Education–Sculpture
Class of 2010
Hometown: Littleton, CO

Why did you choose to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design?

In high school I became really involved in the arts, and with the inspiration from a few great teachers, I decided I wanted to teach as well. So I put art and teaching together and found RMCAD, came to one of the campus tours, and decided it was perfect for me to achieve all of my teaching goals.

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

Observational Drawing was exceptional. I learned so much from that class in a very short time. The teacher was great, and helped me improve my drawing skills to at least twice as good as I was before. I had a blast with the assignments we were given.

What did your favorite professor do to earn your respect or admiration?

So far, David Mesplé has been my favorite. He was my Observational Drawing teacher. I just enjoyed the way he helped us come up with ideas for our projects, and really enjoyed his ideas for new projects. He just made the class fun to be in. He also is very good at what he does as a practicing artist, which helps convince the students that he actually knows what he is talking about.

How has RMCAD prepared you for what you want to do when you graduate?

I would love to get a job as the art teacher at one of my former schools. Soon after I would like to work with one of my current classmates and start our own art school. So far, from my own teachers, I am learning many different ways that I can be the best possible teacher upon graduation. The kind of teacher that inspires their students to pursue a career in the arts.

How would you describe the students who attend RMCAD?

Diverse in their creativity, easy to get to know, and very talented in many ways.

What do you like about living in Denver/Colorado?

The mountains, the fast-changing weather, and the springtime…along with all of the awesome sports teams.

How has your life changed since enrolling at RMCAD?

It has made me a better artist by far and taught me how I can take the things that I am learning and apply them to my own teachings some day.

What kinds of things do you do when you're not attending classes?

I am a very accomplished musician. I currently [Spring '07] have a group of percussionists that performs at the Pepsi Center at the Colorado Crush home games. I play the drums nearly every moment I can spare.

What would you want a prospective student to know about RMCAD?

If you are an art student looking for one of the best artistic experiences you could possibly have in college, this is the school for you. You will learn more about art than you could possibly imagine here, and fit right into the rest of the student body.