About Amelie and Her Lessons
Wondering if you can learn from my lessons? Watch this intro video to see my background, step-by-step process, and how to get the most out of each lesson.
Teachers: There's a special segment at the end just for you!
A Passion forTeaching Art
As an educator, I faced overwhelming demands and a constant shortage of time. Yet, my mission remained unchanged: to empower every single student to reach their full potential. I wanted to guarantee that each child enjoyed a meaningful experience with art and felt proud of their creations!
Maximizing Classroom Connections via Video Curricula
Transforming my lessons into a video format was a long-held dream, but finding the hours to do so felt nearly impossible because teachers are notoriously pressed for time. Even so, I recognized that integrating video into daily classroom routines was the most logical approach to supporting learners. Videos introduce dynamic pacing, explicit instructions, and universal access. Advanced students can move ahead independently, while those requiring additional time can rewatch each step as often as needed. Meanwhile, the teacher is liberated to circulate throughout the room, providing direct encouragement and personalized guidance.
The Power of Layered Video Lessons
To optimize productivity and elevate student outcomes, lessons are structured objectively and broken down into manageable, bite-sized segments—similar to layering a lasagna. Students grasp both the individual components and the overall process. Providing clear pathways and explicit targets helps students realize that creating and enjoying art is an attainable goal for everyone.
Ensuring Universal Accessibility
These instructional videos are built to be paused, rewound, and reviewed. They use a combination of text overlays, subtitles, spoken explanations, and step-by-step demonstrations to convey the entire lesson clearly. By zooming in closely on the techniques being taught, the videos ensure that every student can view the details perfectly, no matter where they sit. Additionally, this documented format allows the material to be translated automatically into any language, keeping it inclusive for all.
Fostering Deep Critical Thinking
When an entire instructional unit is thoroughly mapped out—featuring engaging hooks, interactive activities, guided dialogues, evaluation rubrics, curriculum maps, and alignment with State standards—teachers are freed up to focus on deeper interactions with their students. This structured preparation helps steer learners toward the highest tier of Bloom's Taxonomy, an educational framework designed to layer instruction and connect learning targets with assessments. This shifts the classroom focus away from rote memorization and toward critical analysis, synthesis, and creative expression!
Meet Amelie Rider
Maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Or, maybe you're a school that needs some Art Curriculum. Whatever it is, I've been teaching art for a long time, was a leader in my former school district and have developed my own curriculum from day 1.
"My students have won hundreds of state fair awards and their work even hung in the White House!"
Art is just like making lasagna! We do each step at a time and complete our recipe. Are you ready to make some art?
A Legacy of Excellence
Academic Excellence
My family is well-educated and has a long history. My dad was a brilliant rocket scientist and a college athlete in track and football. Both my mother and my grandmother had Masters Degrees. My grandmother's degree was from Columbia University in NY.
My mother taught college Humanities. My uncles and aunts were professors or doctors. Education and intellectual pursuit have always been central values in my family.
Historical Significance
My grandmother was a Daughter of the American Revolution. My grandfather went to West Point military academy. My great grandmother was in the first graduating class for women at Bryn Mawr in 1889.
We have had family at the Citadel Military academy since before the civil war. My mother's side of the family has books written about our family tree and history.
A Childhood of Movement
Because of my father's job as a scientist, I went to 3 high schools, 5 junior high schools and 6 elementary schools. I was shy and it was difficult to move so much.
As a child we lived in California, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and even Tehran, Iran. I went to Community School in Tehran, Iran.
How This Shaped My Teaching
Growing up in diverse cultures and moving frequently taught me adaptability and empathy. These experiences shaped my teaching philosophy—making art accessible, creating welcoming spaces, and understanding that everyone learns differently.
Education & Degrees
California Credential, ART Education
Chapman University, Roseville, CA
Art History, Art Education
California State University, Sacramento
MA, International Affairs
California State University, Sacramento
Masters Study
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
BS: Commercial Design, Painting
Barton College, Wilson, NC
Recent Series
Fireworks
Metamorphosis
Butterflies in the Jungle
Oceans
Awards & Juried Exhibitions
Featured in prestigious exhibitions and permanent collections
12th National Juried Exhibition, New York
Juror Carmen del Valle Hermo, Assistant Curator for Collections, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Selected from over 400 submissions.
Girl Immigrated, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 18" × 24"
First National Square Show
Ceres Gallery, New York, NY
Everybody's Ocean Exhibition
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
Justin Hoover, Curator of Exhibitions
22nd Annual "Made in California" Juried Exhibition
City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, Orange County, CA
Juror: Michele Urton, Curator LA County Art Museum
Prairie Style - Hanging wire sculpture, 18" x 20" x 42"
First Prize - "Power of Ten" Sculpture Competition
Sacramento Crisis Nurseries
Juror: Roger Berry, sculptor
Dressed Up - Hanging wire sculpture, 18" x 20" x 42"
Gold Award for Superb Craftsmanship
Northern California printer's association, IAPHC and PINC
Bidwell Street Bistro Poster utilizing original oil paint artwork
Group Art Exhibitions
2008 - Cheyenne Artists Guild National Art Competition
2007 - 22nd Annual "Made in California" Juried Exhibition, City of Brea Art Gallery, CA
2006 - Alumni Show, Barton Art Gallery, Barton College, Wilson, NC
2006 - Annual "Power of Ten", Juried Exhibition, Sacramento, CA
2006 - The Wine Merchant, Folsom, CA (permanent collection)
2005 - MTI College, Sacramento, CA (permanent collection)
2005-2003 - The Wine Merchant, Roseville, CA
2004 - Techskills, Sacramento, CA (permanent collection)
2004 - Cheyenne Artists Guild National Art Competition
2002 - Spectrum Art Gallery, Folsom, CA
2000 - FEAT Annual Fundraiser
1999 - 24th Street Gallery, Sacramento, CA (permanent collection)
1997 - Details Salon, Sacramento, CA
1988 - Klap Traet, Copenhagen, Denmark
1988 - Simplistisk Galerie, Copenhagen, Denmark
Permanent Collections
2014 - Asher College, Sacramento, CA
2008 - 24th Street Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2008 - Balcony, Folsom, CA
2008 - Bidwell Street Bistro, Folsom, CA
2007 - The Wine Merchant, Roseville, CA
2006 - The Supper Club, Sacramento, CA
2000 - Sutter Hospital Foundation, Sacramento, CA
1988 - Maria Hund, Copenhagen, Denmark
Step by Step,Anyone Can Paint
My lessons are detailed and thorough, designed for self-paced learning. Each lesson builds upon the previous one, creating a complete learning journey from basic concepts to advanced techniques.
All lessons utilize inexpensive, student-level materials that you can find anywhere. You don't need expensive supplies to create beautiful art!
