Online group classes are great, but…

I’ve taken a lot of art classes in my life. In the past few years many of them have been online, with videos, group coaching, and facebook groups. The classes are often very large, with many people posting, all of us wanting feedback, encouragement, validation. I learn a lot when I hear questions similar to mine being discussed on coaching calls. It is all of value. I’ve gotten so much out of these classes, but they also often leave me feeling lost and out of place, competing for connection, feeling intimidated by those that have more skill and vision, while also annoyed by the beginners threatening to leave because no one commented on their art. The sheer number of other artists can feel like a stampede and trigger my scarcity thinking.

Sometimes I want a quieter space to learn.

We all want to be seen

When I was in college I used to wait in anticipation for the professor to make their way to me, to focus on me and really look at my work. That is what I craved. During critiques it was interesting to hear what the other students thought, but really, we all just wanted the professor’s view. We want someone to spend time and really see our art, give us kind and specific feedback, next steps, suggestions. We want someone who is further along than us to validate us being on the journey. We wonder “should I really be doing this? Am I wasting my time?” We want someone with expertise to say “yes, you should” and to see our unique contribution, to point it out to us.

We also must avoid aesthetic injury

Stories abound of people who got the wrong kind of feedback in a vulnerable moment that resulted in them not making art for years or even decades. Within the art world there are many different subcultures. Some of them have a philosophy of No M.A.S. (No Mutual Admiration Society) and are preparing artists to compete in higher end art markets or in academia – where you do need a thick skin and iron will.

Other art communities have differing values – some are more traditional, or youth oriented, or design focused. Some people are very focused on developing skills in realism, while others just want to be free to express their lived experience in the moment.

It is important to know what you want for your art before you get feedback. Giving feedback is a skill in itself, and some people aren’t very good at it. But people don’t always know what they are ready for. It helps to have an experienced and mindful teacher who’s priority is your creative longevity. I know how to help you ask for what you need from me in terms of feedback so I don’t trample all over your precious creative soul.

I’ve taught every kind of artist

As a high school art teacher, I’ve encountered every kind of artist. I’m not making my students all do the same project at the same time. My art room is an open studio, with each student learning what kind of art they like, what skills they enjoy, and learning to problem solve. I am responsive to their needs, and sensitive to where they are in their artistic development, making sure I’m not THAT teacher that ruins art for them because of a critical comment or assignments that suppress their creative voice. Some of my students go on to study art, video game design, and animation. Most do not, but many come to see art as a valuable part of their lives bringing beauty, pleasure and relaxation.

When a principal comes to observe my class, they often say something like “I wanted to stay and try that out!”

Because I have been teaching for so long, I can quickly identify what a person needs for their next step. Sometimes it is a deep visual analysis of their work. Sometimes it is a drawing lesson. Sometimes it is a quick lesson on composition or color theory. Sometimes it is being shown an artist that might inspire them. Sometimes it is just technical information on what is and what isn’t working based on what they are trying to achieve. Sometimes it’s just encouragement!

I am a lifelong learner

In my own personal art journey have learned many different mediums, skills, approaches, concepts, techniques. I can teach observational drawing, process oriented experiments, abstract expressionism. I have taught all these, and I have explored them in my own art. I have training in Expressive Arts Therapy, and in my in master’s program, focused on how expressive arts therapy can be used by art teachers for their own personal development and self care.

I have experience in drawing (graphite, charcoal), watercolor, acrylic ink, acrylic paint, mixed media, cold wax medium and oil paint, multiple types of printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, animation and digital art.

I have taught how to draw portraits, still life, landscape and to draw from life.

BA in Studio Art

MA in Art Education

Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner

13 years experience teaching art (high school and college level)

Completion of many personal development and art courses

30 years experience as a visual artist

Crone, getting wiser

Responsive to your artistic growth and needs

Which of these is you?

  • You are just getting started on your art journey and want to explore different things and want encouragement and feedback
  • You are an experienced artist who needs encouragement and accountability to get through a block
  • You want to try out a new medium or style and feel stuck and uncomfortable being a beginner again
  • You are curious how art can be used as therapy during a difficult time

I’m confident I can meet you where you are and help you to the next stage.

I love to teach this way

It is exciting to be a part of someone’s artistic journey and to be connected to them during it. I love seeing what people create, and I love to listen to how a person experiences their creative journey, their stories and inspirations, struggles and triumphs. This is what is often lost for me in group classes. I want to be present for each individual.

Affordable so you can get started

My current offer is a package of 10 custom lessons and/or feedback sessions for $500, plus a free initial consultation. We will discuss what you want from your sessions and I will create a custom plan for you. Depending on your needs, I might be preparing lessons/activities for you, spending time teaching you skills, giving you feedback on your work, visual analysis of your work, or virtual galleries of work similar to your goals to inspire you, plus encouragement, listening, support, and belief in you and your art! We set a goal for you together and I will plan out how best to use our time, and how to pace your sessions so that it works in your life.

Supplies needed will be determined based on your custom needs and budget. We will use what you already have as much as possible.

Examples

Beginning Artists – exploratory activities to discover what you love, inspiring targeted activities on the elements of art and design principles to broaden your visual vocabulary and skills, gentle feedback and fierce encouragement, time for reflecting, asking questions. A final project or series to consolidate what you have learned and final critique to determine next steps for you on your art journey.

Blocked Artists – gentle rehabilitating activities to explore and unpack your blocks, with coaching sessions to reflect on the process, dig into your goals, frustrations, prior aesthetic injuries. Accountability to gently, oh so gently rebuild your creative habits and studio practice.

Experienced Artist Wanting Something New – it’s hard to be a beginner if you are used to being skilled, especially if you are middle aged. Together we will explore sacred creative play, the beauty and necessity of so called failure, and I can provide a framework to give you smaller targets to make it easier to be at the bottom of a steep learning curve. Depending on the medium or style you are wanting to explore, I will do demos to get you started.

What I CANNOT offer

I am a generalist, so if you are looking to perfect more advanced skills in realism, or any particular medium, I can only be a guide on the side and likely won’t have the requisite skills to directly teach you myself. But I will be able to identify the areas of your work where the skill needs improvement, just like a coach who can’t play the sport themselves but knows how to bring out the best in the athlete.

I have experience in most mediums, but am not an expert any particular one.

I was trained in observational drawing, and have limited experience in the constructivist approach. So if you are interested in more illustrated, manga, or comic style, I won’t be able to help as much because those are constructivist styles.

Sign Up For A Free Initial Consultation

I’m not a salesperson, so don’t worry about me pressuring you. I only want to work with people who want to do this and I don’t need to meet any sales goals. The consultation will be about 30 minutes. If we decide its a good fit, and you are excited to proceed, then I will request a $250 deposit so I can start planning your program. We will decide together how to use your session, and how frequently to meet. I’m excited to meet you and hear about your struggles and goals!

If you would like to see my teaching style first, I have a free course available here.