It was a moment that changed her life.

And it all started with an introductory sculpture class.

The Temple College art professor is a California native who grew up on a lemon orchard. She originally studied biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Her goal was to venture into conservation or farming. That was until she took her first art class.

“My last semester I had to fill a fine arts credit and took a sculpture class and realized I was a little better at that than biology, so I completely changed direction,” McGrath said. “I remember calling my parents and saying, ‘Dad, I think I’m going to be in school for a couple more years.’”

Her parents weren’t the only ones taken back by the change, McGrath said she was “very surprised” by her ability in the class.

“I was anxious and worried if I was going to be able to do it, but it was something that was very natural,” she said.

Funny thing, considering she thought at a young age that she wasn’t artist material.

“My mom is a painter and she does realistic water colors and I grew up not being able to paint realistically like that,” McGrath said. “I just assumed that I wasn’t very artistic.”

She is though, and now she uses her science and art backgrounds to help teach students.

“There’s a lot of problem solving, critical thinking and creative thought involved in art and that goes into a lot of mainstream jobs,” McGrath said. “I don’t think people put those processes with the art field, so it can be beneficial for any student.”

McGrath is teaching art history, ceramics and sculpture at Temple College.

“We haven’t had sculpture in a few years, and we’re slowly building that back up,” McGrath said. “The ceramics program is being rebuilt a little and the curriculum is being revamped.”

Her classes are open to everyone, no matter their skill level.

“It’s one of the those classrooms where you will be in good company,” McGrath said. “I’ve had students who really didn’t know what ceramics were at all to someone who has been doing it for 10 years.”

The different makeup of the classes is a benefit, McGrath said.

“It’s great because the students not only learn from me but from each other,” she said. “That’s really the ultimate point of this, it’s the idea of community and discussion.”

However, her classes do require a strong work ethic.

“Students will walk out not only knowing about ceramic work but about the art world in general,” McGrath said. “It’s very hands-on and there are historical and contemporary elements to it, but you will come in and work and get dirty.”

rrenfrow@temple-telegram.com