"Crab Study" by Debra Keirce
from an online study I did with instructor Sarah Siltala
It's such a good time to be an art student!
.
There are so many great ways to learn:
- Take a workshop (I have a great lineup of instructors coming to Virginia in 2017)
- Take an online course (Here are some links to courses I personally have benefitted from, Vitruvian, Craftsy, Web Art Academy, Sadie Valeri)
- Attend classes at an art center (Here are links to excellent classes if you are in New Mexico or Virginia)
- Attend an atelier (Here is a list of excellent ateliers)
- Take private lessons (Contact me if you are interested in studying with me)
"Chalice Study" by Debra Keirce, from a Trompe L'Oeil demonstration
In this post, I'd like to talk about the last in that list - private lessons.
I have taught students in my home studio, one hour at a time, on a weekly basis, over the last 6 years of my career. But it was this past year, when an artist approached me with specific needs that I first had the idea to switch from a curriculum based teaching method to one where the student sets the agenda, the pace, the focus, and the methods for our lessons. It's working out great, which is why I wanted to share this.
For the first time, I am tailoring the weekly lessons to exactly what the student wants to learn. Of course, I describe the process for how we are going to accomplish the student's goals, and of course I am sharing the basics first, but we are skipping over the parts of the painting process that the student is not interested in. We can go back and address those things at a later date, or not. But I am seeing great progress, engagement, and success in teaching this way. I only have one data point with this method, but it is so encouraging.
"Baked Good" by Debra Keirce
a painting I did in Cindy Procious' workshop at DebKArt Home Studios
When you take private painting lessons with an instructor, decide on the degree of customizing you prefer, up front. Do you want to follow a curriculum the instructor has laid out where you will not be allowed to progress to the next level of learning until you master the one before it? This is an excellent way to learn, but it means you will be toughing it out through lessons you are not eager to do. You have to learn these things eventually so you can bite the bullet and do them.
Or, if you direct the instructor as to what you are most interested in learning, what I am finding is that the student recognizes the skills that are holding them back. Suddenly, those parts of the process that were being avoided at the start become more interesting, and the student is more engaged and more eager to learn them. Learning always happens more easily with an eager student.
I am excited to use this same student-directed teaching method in 2017 as new artists approach me to give them private lessons. There is nothing more rewarding for an instructor, than seeing the concepts they are sharing sink in and make a real difference in the work being created!
