What is more important?

What is more important art or teacher?

I feel that in order to be proficient in either you must be proficient in both art and teaching. However if I were forced to chose I would say that teaching is something that you can be taught but it is not necessarily an easily acquired trait. Working with students can be very trying at times and you must have the passion to continue to do it. Art on the other hand, while also being trying is also more about self than about others. Skills in art may be acquired over time but not everyone has the ability to acquire the skills to be a great teacher.

Do you need to be an artist to be an art teacher?

I think that being an artist is greatly beneficial in teaching art however as many art teachers have told me, once you become a teacher your art takes a backseat. Yet I still believe that having the artist mentality is needed when teaching young people to become artists themselves. Being an artists gives you a unique perspective that many other people do not have.