*Note: This blog was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 3/12/2020
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” — Pablo Picasso
When you’re a kid playing with paint or a box of crayons for the first time, there isn’t any element of self-consciousness getting in your way. It’s just you and your supplies huddled away into your own imagination, losing track of time and the world around you. As we get older, a myriad of factors begin to creep in, making the act of creating art so much more frustrating. Anxiety around perfectionism, imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and even just day-to-day responsibilities monopolizing your time can interfere in creating art as an adult.
CourseCraft Co-Founder, artist, author, and mother Sara Funduk shares that when her son was born, she was nervous she had let her creative side “dry up”. She felt like she “had no time to paint and [she] definitely didn’t have time for all the setup and cleanup work that went with it”. Luckily, she finally found some time in her daily grind to start painting again and that reignited her creative spark.
So how do we as a society help foster creativity well past childhood, re-engage busy creatives, and even help some adults to create art for the first time?
Art classes!
That’s where you come in.
Creatives no longer have to attend formal art schools to have fulfilling careers, so people are more frequently seeking individual classes to strengthen their skills or simply dip their toes into art-making. Whether you’re running an online art course or teaching one in-person for your local community, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re teaching a class geared at beginner artists.
It all starts with genuine, consistent, encouragement…
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to have “natural-born” talent to be an artist. In fact, there’s evidence against the idea that that concept of natural talent even exists. Still, this myth persists and often leads to people repeating familiar lines like “I’m not an artist” or “I’m not creative”. The truth of the matter is, more than anything else it takes practice to become a better artist. Encouraging students to be gentler with themselves, continuing to practice every day, and to actively fight off preconceived notions of what an artist is or is not, is a crucial part of any course. Without that initial push, it can be hard for beginners to feel confident enough to experiment and push their limits.
2. But it’s also absolutely necessary to give solid technical instruction
Artist and author of “The Everything Guide to Drawing” Helen South, shares the pitfalls of not focusing on basic techniques from the get-go. She explains that “traditionally, teaching art emphasized self-expression and avoided skill building for fear of cramping creativity. However, basic skills can be enjoyable to work on, and having strong skills allows students to more fully express their original idea.” It’s important to find a balance between encouraging students’ creativity and actually showing them how to hone their craft.
3. Learning to give and receive artistic critique is a critical tool for growth
It can be tempting to steer clear of formal critique when students are first starting, out of fear it might discourage them. In reality, learning the important skill of both giving and receiving artistic critique is foundational for continued growth. With proper structure (several templates are offered online), and repetition, a critique can give direction to artists and encourage their creative skills to flourish!
Artist Marc Holmes recognizes that sometimes during traditional in-person art courses getting one-on-one time between students and teachers can be difficult because of the size of classes. He highlights that “online classes give tutors the opportunity to give critiques and answer questions by email. This gives them time to compose solid answers, offer useful links, and sometimes even do a sketch by way of example.”
The therapeutic benefits of creating art are well documented, but the barrier to entry for many adults, especially ones who have no previous experience, can feel overwhelming. Taking the time and effort to help people discover their creatives sides can have a real effect on the world around you. Babita Shamji, mother of three raves about the personal progress she’s made through taking art classes as an adult. She shares that “It has opened up emotional doors, given [her] confidence. Sometimes, [she] looks at the canvas and wonders how [she] made that.”
Feel ready to start your own art e-course for beginners? CourseCraft provides a free, intuitive way to share your knowledge with people all over the world and help them lead a more creative life, learn more here. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.