Yes, I teach a lot. I love it. It is my social life. Once the kids left home I found that my entire social life had existed because of their high school sporting and social events. That ended with them leaving the nest. So I increased my schedule over the past few years and I want to share some thoughts. The enrollment of my workshops has increased and I am so grateful! I see such desire to learn from the people that choose to study with me. I LOVE it. They are so earnest. And I have been told I am a natural born teacher.
Now to my thoughts and concerns. I believe there is a small group that may feel I teach too much, that it hurts my personal work. And that I may be contributing to the rise of the amount of artists entering the market. I have no love for "Art Snobs". First, I don't teach formulas. The information I teach has been available to anyone for centuries. And whether a person started their career early or late should not be a concern. I teach the fundamentals and encourage the student to explore their potential in order to be able to "say what they want to say". There is no need to worry about the "wannabes"! That is what they will remain. It's those artists that put in the time, the 10,000 or 7,000 or whatever amount of hours it takes to become oneself. And I firmly believe that if one searches with earnest and with quality mileage they will emerge with their own vision and there will always be room for those artists. Whether it's two or two million.
I teach that you may manipulate the values. I teach you may use a full palette or a limited one. I teach that you may vary the surface quality. I teach that paying attention to "edges" can create it's own statement. I teach how to paint form. I teach simple proportions of the figure. I teach how to draw. I can teach how to capture a more representational version of an image or one that has a more personal vision. I hope that I also teach how to think and how to see. But I cannot teach someone "what to say". That only comes through ones personal journey through quality "blood, sweat and tears". There is room for you and me.
Goodness, I would have never thought that. Everybody gets to do something in this world and you have picked the right combination of things for you. And as for mileage to get your own voice? You betcha!
ReplyDeleteHope you are well! And if you wanna go sketch let me know!
Libby
I would gladly take classes from you any day!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBravo! And you are much appreciated by someone in Melbourne, Australia !!!
ReplyDeletePeggi-- So well said. And, you certainly show that generosity in your workshops. I too believe that there is room for everyone---and that there is only one of each of us. You ARE a natural born teacher and I'm so grateful for the wonderful workshops of yours I've attended.
ReplyDeleteI would take your class, too. I totally dislike art snobs and, as a newer painter, I so appreciate good painters who are also good teachers. It amazes me that these snobs think that they taught themselves! I might take your class in MD but a bit intimidated by the subject (painting people) eeeek! thanks for being you.
ReplyDeletePeggi, I have taken 3 workshops from you and I do not consider myself a 'workshop person' whatever that may be, and your methods have been solid. I will be teaching a workshop locally and I can say that your videos and all of the generosity you have displayed will inform everything I do. I particularly agree that it is up to each artist to make something his/her own!
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate the support fellow artists! Thank you for the kind comments.
ReplyDeleteI so needed to read what you have written and shared with the us. I am not able to travel distances to take workshops...I have every DVD that you had published...but, to hear your thought process in such a candid way opened my eyes and ears on a day when I had a little black cloud following me. Thanks....Peggi
ReplyDeleteLove your teaching and your style of work. If people like you don't teach who will. You and your husband both have fantastic teaching skills. I truly learnt a lot from you guys. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, there will always be haters.
ReplyDeleteLove your teaching and your style of work. If people like you don't teach who will. You and your husband both have fantastic teaching skills. I truly learnt a lot from you guys. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, there will always be haters.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that this popped up on my FB timeline. You have the heart of a true teacher. The world needs more artists like YOU!
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