The Fun of Teaching & Sharing My Art Techniques

Art has a way of connecting people, and sharing what I know about it sometimes just tickles me to no end! Whether I’m in a classroom with students or recording a tutorial for my YouTube channel for all to see...teaching art feels like passing on a spark that can light up someone’s creativity...so exciting...who knew I would love this so much!

Sunday Studio Session Artists

Why Teaching Art Feels So Rewarding

Teaching art is more than showing how to hold a brush or mix colors. It’s about inspiring others to see the world differently and express themselves. When I see a student light up after mastering a new technique, it reminds me why I started sharing my art in the first place.

In class, the energy is immediate. You can see the progress, answer questions on the spot, and adjust your teaching to fit the students needs. I'm not sure my students realize it, but this keeps me on my toes and constantly learning myself...as an artist I need that!

Teaching in Class: Hands-On and Personal

In-person classes offer a chance to build relationships and tailor lessons to individual students...especially since I keep my class small, making them more intimate. I can walk around, observe their work closely, and offer personalized suggestions. I can be pretty hands-on, which I feel helps students overcome specific challenges...they can see how to solve a problem and move on in real time.

The classroom allows for immediate feedback, which speeds up learning. If a student struggles with a technique, I can demonstrate how to do it, change it up or suggest alternative tools right away. This also gves me the opportunity to solve issues on work that is not mine...keeping me on my creative toes!

Here are some things we focus on during class:

• Demos: Showing techniques and/or offering information that helps students follow along and understand the process.

• Encouragement: Art can be so intimidating, so I make sure to celebrate big & small wins and keep the atmosphere positive.

• Group activities: Collaborative projects or critiques help students learn from each other and build confidence. This is one of my favorite things to do in class. It not only builds confidence, but encourages camaraderie and strengthens the group.

  
  

  Stay tuned for the group project my students will be working on over the next few months...it's going to be pretty cool!

  
  

Cat On The Ledge

Sharing Art on YouTube: Reaching a Wider Audience

On YouTube, the connection is different but just as meaningful. Comments and messages from viewers who tried my techniques or found encouragement in my videos create a sense of community. It’s rewarding to know that my videos reach people who might never have access to a local art class. And I love when the same viewers show up each week and chime in on the comments...again...so rewarding!

Besides that...creating art tutorials for YouTube is a different kind of challenge and creativity. Without face-to-face interaction, I have to be clear and engaging through the camera...not always the case when I'm trying to work out a piece in real time. Planning videos means breaking down techniques into simple steps and anticipating questions viewers might have. Though truth be told...I often do less planning and more working out designs while filming. I get many comments from viewers saying it's really helpful to see and hear how I make decisions and work things out.

Some tips I’ve learned for making effective art videos:

• Keep videos focused: Cover one technique or project per video to avoid overwhelming viewers.

• Use close-up shots: Showing details of brush strokes or color mixing helps viewers follow along...I'm constantly trying to work these angles out!

• Add voiceover explanations: Talking through the process makes the video more personal and easier to understand...though doing a voiceover takes twice as much time as just chatting while making art!

  
  

One of the best parts about YouTube is the ability to reach people worldwide. I’ve received messages from artists in remote areas who don’t have access to art classes. Knowing that my videos help them is incredibly fulfilling.

Combining Both Worlds: What I’ve Learned

Teaching in class and sharing on YouTube complement each other. Classroom experiences inspire video content, and online feedback helps me improve my teaching style. For example, a question from a YouTube viewer might lead me to develop a new lesson plan for my next class. I often make my YouTube videos to further demonstrations for my in studio class, so I don't have to take up valuable class time demoing when they really want to just get to their easels and paint!

Here are some practical ways I balance both:

• Use classroom sessions to test new techniques before filming them.

• Encourage students to watch my videos for extra practice at home.

  
  

Hit the red button and go to the the last of a series of four videos I did on two paintings...Studio Sessions 219 through 222 on YouTube

Tips for Sharing Your Own Art Techniques

If you’re thinking about teaching your art, and I highly recommend it, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Start small: Offer a workshop or record a short video on one technique.

• Be patient: Teaching takes practice, you’ll improve with experience and it gets better all the time!

• Engage your audience: Ask for feedback and questions to make your lessons more interactive.

• Show your process: People love seeing how art evolves from start to finish.

• Keep it simple: Break down complex techniques into easy steps.

  
  

Sharing my art has deepened my skills and opened doors to new connections.

Whether in person or online, teaching has invited me to see my work through fresh eyes and always be excited to paint more!