@ Mrs. Magnin

@ Mrs. Magnin

Welcome to the Art Department Esperanza & El Camino students and families! I remember that it was always super nice for me to get to know my teachers when I went to school, so I thought I would include a bit of 'about your teacher' information for you to look over at your leisure:

I was born and raised on the historic New Jersey shore, in a tiny clamming town on the Barnegat Bay. My father, the son of Norwegian immigrants, was a high school history/award winning speech and debate teacher near NYC, and my mother, grand daughter of English immigrants, was a super tough NJ State Health Inspector. The 1970's sleepy and slow waterfront life was where I first discovered my love of the fine arts at an early age; a time of endless unobstructed hours to leisurely draw, paint, wander, and discover nature.  Our public schools were and still are some of the best and well supported in the country; a fact that has driven me to try to recreate the 'endless possibilities' I felt as a young child.  The "Old Barney" lighthouse to the right was the subject of my first 'experimental' oil painting in middle school; our own children have climbed up this historic lighthouse on Long Beach Island quite a few times. 

At the age of 14, I began taking art lessons every Saturday morning  at the Island Heights Studio of Art, in Island Heights, New Jersey. My teacher was a wonderful professional artist named Mr. Robert Toth. His inspiring studio was literally my home-away-from-home every Saturday for three years. I still keep in touch with Mr. Toth to this day through his gallery in NC. Check out some of his "Video Art Talks" below to meet the artist who truly inspired me to become your art teacher so many years ago. 

Teaching Philosophy

Throughout my 19 years as an art teacher in PYLUSD, I have created a  teaching philosophy for my students inspired by my days at Island Heights Studio.  I strive to provide all students with a peaceful, and inspired journey into a world of creative possibilities, self-exploration, critical thinking skills, and advanced techniques. All levels of Art Classes also encourage students to enjoy learning within a safe and inclusive home-away-from-home experience.  

Education

After high school, I head to Philadelphia where I studied fine arts for two years at Tyler School of  Art at Temple University. I then transferred to UCLA, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in Design. (I left the fine arts scene in Philly to explore the exciting commercial design opportunities in Los Angeles!) One of many highlights at UCLA was interning  with famed movie director Roger Corman at New Concorde Pictures in Los Angeles.  I was hired as a  concept sketch artist, where one of my sketches was copied exactly and made into a movie poster for "Raiders of the Sun." Check it out to the left!

After graduating from UCLA, I enjoyed spending the next 10 years happily working in Orange County advertising agencies, design, and art departments. However, after accepting an unexpected opportunity to teach art for a short time in a public school, I knew that I found my true calling; helping children to discover the arts as a tool for self discovery.

Personal & Professional Life

I joined the PYLUSD family in 2006, first student teaching at Esperanza under a fantastic master teacher, Marsha Linsley.  I then accepted a position at Travis Ranch Middle School, where I served as the Visual Art, Ceramics, and Yearbook Teacher, as well as the electives department chair for 9 years. This year, I am thrilled to be starting my 10th year as Art Teacher at EHS and 2nd year as Art teacher for El Camino Real High School!

Finally, My family is an integral part of PYLUSD. We have lived in Placentia for the past 24 years, and we have two daughters who are Esperanza High School alumni. Shannon (graduated summa cum laude from San Fransisco State University, 2024) earned her Masters Degree in Environmental Studies at Colorado State University this year, and Somer (graduated summa cum laude from UC Santa Barbara, 2023) just graduated from Northwestern University with her MSMFT. My husband Scott recently retired as an elementary school teacher in BPSD; he was an icon in the community for decades, and is currently teaching surfing lessons at local OC beaches.