Title: Owner, Artisan and Instructor
Company: Artisan Experience LLC
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
John David Arnold, Owner, Artisan and Instructor at Artisan Experience LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Arts Education.
Mr. Arnold has established a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in arts, history and education, earning recognition for his expertise and dedication to community engagement. Since 2018, he has served as the owner, artisan and instructor at Artisan Experience LLC, where he leads a team that includes his son and a close friend in crafting unique tables and stonework for customers.
An entry into limestone carving sparked by an encounter at the Ohio Renaissance Festival around 2000, Mr. Arnold learned from an experienced carver while assisting with sales. This formative experience led him to pursue limestone carving more seriously after retirement, culminating in the creation of Artisan Experience LLC, a mobile craft initiative designed to bring hands-on workshops directly to communities.
Mr. Arnold oversees all aspects of the operation, from sourcing and preparing “dead stone” to maintaining tools and equipment. He is also responsible for the technical, instructional and artistic direction of the business, ensuring that each project reflects both craftsmanship and educational value. Mr. Arnold’s commitment to teaching extends beyond the studio, as he regularly collaborates with local organizations, such as Fishers Park, the local library and area museums, contributing his skills to community projects and fostering an appreciation for traditional crafts.
Leveraging decades of former success in the classroom, Mr. Arnold expanded his professional reach in 2024 by becoming an adjunct professor of art history survey courses at the University of Indianapolis. In this role, he shares his extensive knowledge of art history with undergraduate students, emphasizing the importance of technique and historical context in the development of artistic expression.
Mr. Arnold’s diverse background also included the launch of Kilted Spirits in 2024, where he serves as a central Indiana whiskey instructor, offering tastings and educational experiences that celebrate whisky culture throughout the region. As a certified chartered master bourbon taster by Whiskey University and instructor of the history of distillers and brands in the whiskey industry, both domestically and abroad, he is passionate about educating the public about the liquor.
Having spent nearly four decades employed by the Indianapolis Public Schools, Mr. Arnold taught at the elementary school level for 17 years, at the middle school level for four years, and at the high school level for another 14 years. During his tenure as a visual arts instructor and technical stage director at Arsenal Technical High School from 2004 to 2018, he revitalized the three-dimensional arts programs and managed stage production for four annual musical performances that involved both students and faculty. Mr. Arnold also coordinated numerous events in the school auditorium, leveraging his background in music and theater to foster student creativity.
While teaching for the public school district, Mr. Arnold simultaneously served as an adjunct professor of art history at Ivy Tech Community College from 2009 to 2022, where he introduced students to foundational concepts in visual arts and fostered critical thinking through historical analysis.
Mr. Arnold’s academic achievements included earned a Bachelor of Arts in visual arts and crafts/education from Anderson College in Anderson in 1981, a Master of Arts with honors at Anderson University in Anderson in 1982, and a Master of Arts in painting and drawing with a focus on fine and studio arts from Ball State University in Muncie in 1996. These degrees provided him with a strong foundation in both artistic practice and pedagogy. In addition to his formal education, Mr. Arnold has received several credentials that complement his expertise, including certification in science and nature through Project WILD.
Throughout his career, Mr. Arnold has demonstrated exceptional leadership within professional organizations. He is a member of the Indiana Limestone Symposium, the Retired Teachers Association and the Indiana State Teachers Association. Mr. Arnold has also represented both the Indianapolis Education Association and the National Education Association, and has served as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts for one year.
Civic engagement has been a central aspect of Mr. Arnold’s life. He serves as an aquatic instructor for scouting, acts as a deacon at his local church, supports soccer programs within Indianapolis Public Schools, donates to United Way, and contributes time and resources to Boy Scouts of America initiatives.
Among his accolades, Mr. Arnold was named an Honorary Graduate by Arsenal Technical High School in 2018. Looking ahead, he plans to leverage his degree in art education by teaching studio classes at the national college level, working closely with students on their artistic development, and continuing efforts that unite communities through creative expression.
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