Possibility
Since 2009, I've offered an online class that starts on or around the New Year. I'm usually traveling and managing it while on the road visiting my family. This is the first year in over five years that we're not heading East for Christmas. It's the first year in over six years that I haven't announced a new online class.
There is one in the works. I have something very new and very different planned (yes, paint, collage AND videos.) I am very excited and eager to share it with you but not just yet.
I have three in person classes left for 2015 (San Diego, Torrance and L.A., I'm looking at you.) I am planning my time wisely. I am looking at new approaches to teaching and how I offer my classes. I am excited and bursting with new ideas and possibility. I am also looking forward to a little down time.
I absolutely love teaching. It makes me happy. It feeds me on so many levels. The hardest part of teaching is not coming up with new ideas but finding new audiences and venues to present these offerings.
Since 2007, it has become increasingly difficult to be a mixed media instructor, at least for me. I don't have sponsors and my supporters are my wonderful students who cheer me on by signing up for classes. I have been teaching in person classes since 1998. I've taught everywhere: rubber stamp stores, scrapbooking stores, art stores, conventions, retreats, private studios, living rooms, church basements, patios, schools (private and public from preschool to high school), home schooled children, a mental health facility and many more. Doors keep closing. I keep trying to find new ones to open. I'm not giving up.
As I work on my new online class, I'd love to hear what you look for in classes both online and in person. What do you want from a class? What do you want in a teacher? What do you want from me as an artist and teacher? Any comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I thank you in advance for your time.
Comments
I also love it in videos when the teacher is creating the project for the camera, just like a live class. No speed ups - just me being able to see what you do and how you handle the next step in the process. That's actually a bonus over live classes - I can rewind the video as much as I want, to hone in on the details of what I'm trying to learn.
I also appreciate videos where the person isn't on camera - the camera is on a tripod over them, and so you'll see their hands, but otherwise, it's just the materials and the art.
I hope this helps. :)