I just finished my first 5-week Adult Intro to Drawing Course and I absolutely adore this first batch of students. As a newbie to the teaching scene, I wasn't sure what to expect. Boy was I pleasantly surprised.
All of these students shared some qualities that I am going to take with me into my own art journey:
1. Humility. They were nervous about learning a new skill, but willing to try anyway.
2. Learner-Attitude. Whatever I taught, they were willing to learn. The fact that they even signed up for the class at all shows a hunger to learn.
3. Friendly. Their willingness to get to know each other and share a bit of their story with the group made each class a delight.
4. Courage. I made art in secret for years before I worked up the courage to share it. Not this group. By the second class they were willingly sharing their drawings with each other and encouraging one another.
Brave as Bears
There’s an Ogden Nash poem about Custard the Dragon. Custard lives with a cat, a dog, a mouse, and a girl named Belinda. As it turns out, Custard was a cowardly dragon, but “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears!”
I’ve made that a new theme in my life.
Take risks, try new things, fail, succeed, be brave as bears.
One of my acts of bravery was saying yes to teaching. I’ve painted, exhibited, joined galleries, done vendor events, but I hadn’t taught an art class. Until recently.
I started out my teaching journey ‘gently’. I facilitated the Life Drawing classes at a local gallery. ‘Facilitated’ is just a fancy way of saying I ran the timer. Then, I took over hosting their monthly family art activity event.
Now, I’m teaching a weekly Adult Drawing Class and a Black and White Oil Painting class.
The thing I’m learning about bravery is that you only need one spurt. The first time you do something is the only time you need that spurt of courage. After that, the thing isn’t new or scary anymore. It’s just regular life.
So here’s to cowardly dragons…and brave Belindas!
