Only two months into the school year, new drawing teacher Ashely MacLure is already hosting open studios as she settles into her position and is making a strong, positive impression on the Concord Academy community.
MacLure grew up in Rhode Island and dreamt of attending the Rhode Island School of Design. There, she became an avid illustrator and continued to pursue her passion after college. After one of her illustrating contracts ended, she decided to take an opening for a substitute drawing teacher in a public high school, as she had always loved drawing and interacting with kids. “I [took the job] and I was instantly hooked. I realized that sharing my love for drawing, painting, and art was something that really fed my soul,” said MacLure.
From there, she went back to school to earn her Master's in education, and continued teaching in public school, where she fell deeper in love with her job. Earlier this year, she saw an opening at CA and decided to take a leap of faith and apply for the job.
Currently, MacLure is teaching four drawing courses: Drawing 1, 2, and 3, along with The Figure, which focuses on sketching the human body. She is also the Assistant Yearbook Advisor. MacLure loves watching the genuine interactions between students and staff, and seeing everyone's individuality bloom at CA. The consistent passion of students and the Visual Art Department's dedication to make art an inclusive, welcoming space further inspires her to both instruct and learn alongside her students.
Outside of teaching, MacLure loves spending time with her daughter, whether they are watching movies, playing games, or drawing side by side. During her free time, McLure can be found exploring different TV shows, experimenting with unconventional materials, drawing, or making collages. “I think art is communication, that’s my favorite thing about art,” she remarked. To MacLure, art is also proof of someone’s existence, and she finds ancient art and the unique story each piece tells incredibly fascinating.
As she embarks on her new chapter at CA, MacLure hopes to find her place, make meaningful contributions, and create a true sense of belonging. She is looking forward to contributing to the Visual Arts Department and helping students view drawing as an accessible, expressive, and meaningful form of art.