Teaching art

Stage fright has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s very selective. I’m fine in front of a crowd of thousands, especially in halls where the lights are on me and I can’t see the faces of anyone past the first row or two… and even they are too […]

In the days of the Old Masters, apprentices and students would copy their masters’ works over & over again, until they could mimic the technique perfectly. Then, they’d develop their own styles. When a student (or someone who’s learning a new technique) copies my art exactly–or very closely–I like to think of them in that

Most of us went from making to teaching, pretty directly. In many ways, the best advice is that slogan, “Just do it.” But, how can you build confidence and prepare for the unexpected? Start with some “dress rehearsals” Practice teaching with less formal groups. Older Girl Scouts (high school students) are a good audience. If

The first and most important rule is… Ask how to get started at the places where you’d like to teach. It’s that simple. Just visit, call or email the people who might hire you to teach. Other than that, anything that I say reflects only my experiences and opinions. The one and only opinion that

I’m not netting $50K right now, but in past years, I have earned in that vicinity. I earned the most right before my third child was born, and–if you adjust for inflation–my gross was around $180K, with maybe 3/4 of that being net income. The bulk of my income came from three sources: Original art

Planning your classes and workshops is always important. However, you should think about pacing as well as actual content. “Pacing” applies to you–your personal style of teaching–but also to your students. In fact, your students should be your first concern. Divide the day into thirds, at least I’ve always figured what we’d accomplish in the

Many teachers won’t talk about how much they get paid. They don’t want to risk future gigs by revealing the financial side of events. After all, many teachers make more at a four-day event than their students earn in six months. Some event organizers won’t talk about money, either. They prefer to keep their profit

As artists, our intense desire to share creativity with others can override common sense. Keep this in mind when teaching. First, decide what you absolutely must have to teach a good class. Can you teach in a room that’s too hot? Too cold? Overcrowded? So large, you shout yourself hoarse? Can you teach with construction

If you’ve been teaching at shops for awhile, national art events might be your logical next step. However, they’re not the best choice for everyone. For the first year or two, expect to lose money teaching at art events. Event paychecks may look juicy, but when you factor in travel, supplies (that you provide), and