The Joy of Teaching

My first class EVER in Amelia Island, FL

Sean working on his boat collage

Teach? Oh no, I couldn't

If you asked me a few years ago about the potential for teaching collage art workshops, I'd probably tell you that I didn't know how to teach anyone anything. But SOMEHOW I agreed to teach a collage workshop one day when some folks emailed me from Amelia Island. My husband had always told me to say "yes" when asked to do such things, and then figure out how to do it later. So I did, I said "yes" and then I wondered,... how the hell am I going to do this?

In those days my kids were in elementary school and I had volunteered in each of their classes, every year, with the PTA Art See program where we centered a lesson and a project around a famous artist once a month. I taught K-5th grade. I also was the co-chair of the national PTA Reflections program for three years. 

"If you can teach and organize elementary kids and art programs, you can certainly teach adults who actually WANT to be there." 

True, very true. 

The Answer is Always "Yes"

So sure, I agreed to be The Amelia Island Artists Workshops Inc. FIRST visiting teacher. AND the man all the way to the right in the above photo is Sean Callahan, an amazing pet portrait and watercolor artist who emailed me prior to the class to ask me a few questions. I visited his website www.dogtiredstudio.net and then I said... WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO TEACH THIS GUY? His work is amazing, check out his website.

Sean Patrick Callahan's boat collage, which he promptly SOLD

Guess what? Sean liked the class so much he called me three years later and asked me to come here, to Key West, where I am teaching this weekend and taught last year as well. AND he invited me to show in Stone Soup Gallery on White Street. This weekend was the opening for my second solo show here.

Not only have we stayed friends, but these days I am also Sean's hairdresser

Guess What? I could get used to this

Truth be told, I really enjoyed teaching that very first class on Amelia Island. They enjoyed having me too, since they asked me to return the following two years. Sean reminded me this weekend that during the Amelia Island class, he went out at lunch time and purchased a copy of Hemingway's "Old Man of the Sea" and wove the printed pages into his boat. He said he learned a lot from me in that class (despite the fact that I had no idea what I was doing) and he TELLS ME that he had no idea it was my very first workshop. I think he just wants me to remain his hairdresser, so he's being nice.

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Terrance Michael making us all eggs in the morning

Just Hanging

I have to give a shout out to Sean and his husband Terry for their AMAZING hospitality while I have been here. Despite my trying to work my way into the kitchen and do my share, Terry has been cooking almost every meal and juicing all kinds of crazy veggies for me (beats are amazingly purple when served over ice), as well as running three miles every morning at the sea wall together. Sean makes me coffee, pours me wine, drives me all over the island, and does his very best to sell my work at the gallery.

The True Joy of Teaching
I enjoy teaching workshops because it's great to be the center of attention (right?) and to have folks really interested in what I have to say about the subject I am considered an "expert" at. Truth be told, the true joy of teaching is in the people I meet, the friends I make, and continue to stay in touch with. I'm sure you can see how Sean and I have changed over the years from the first photo to now. How cool is that?

Cheryl and I having too much fun posing with my demo apple this weekend in Key West

See Cheryl's blog posts about the class here  and here

This weekend was no exception. I met an amazing woman named Line who came here to visit Key West from Denmark and decided to take my class while she was in town. I met Leni and her husband David (soon to be first time grandparents) who drove all the way from Hollywood, FL (4 hours, people) after admiring my work in multiple galleries and stalking me online! I had two returning students, and met more locals and snow birds. There is a huge sense of community here in Key West, I've saw a lot of familiar faces at my show opening from last year. Folks here are close.

Don't Be a Stranger

"I've had some of my best conversations with strangers, she said, because they have no idea who they're dealing with." -- Brian Andreas

www.storypeople.com

I love Brian Andreas because his limericks really resonate with me. I TOTALLY talk to everyone I meet without any issue, when this quote showed up in my e-mail box as my subscribed story of the day, I forwarded to everyone I knew. 

I'm outgoing and certainly not shy, I love to joke and laugh with everyone and that's what makes me a good fit for teaching. I'll tease you, make you smile and have you feeling good about yourself and your artwork. There's no pressure and no wrong answers or dumb questions. 

Watch out, I might even encourage you to run a 5K! I've had at least three students dust of their running shoes and get off their couches after listening me say, "If I can do it, anyone can." This weekend I'm teaching at the Craft Shack in my hometown of Longwood, FL. I might just be a little late though, on Saturday morning I'm running the Seasons 52 5K in Winter Park. 

Stone Soup Gallery opening reception last year

People Make All the Difference

I'm forever thankful for the people that I meet in workshops. My student and friend Maritza took my third class in Amelia Island and then brought me to Bermuda (where she lives) to teach at the Bermuda Society of the Arts. I've had students in my class from Alberta, Canada, Denmark, and even Qatar!

Maritza and Yours Truly in Amelia Island, Florida

I have a lot of return students as well. If you have taken my class and want to come back for more, I'll modify your project so that you can work at an intermediate level. This weekend we had two returning students at the gallery from last year, Gretchen and Karen both wanted more! LOL.

Chuck Seaman popped into Stone Soup this weekend to say hello, he took my class last year. I gave him some pointers on how to use fluid acrylics to color his traditional Gyotaku fish prints and he offered to make me some small fish impressions, and maybe even some plants in return. SCORE! Are you kidding? I can't wait to collage with fish impressions. Chuck's work is amazing: www.chuckseamanfishart.com

Kim and Yours Truly in Traverse City, MI

Kimberly Kelly Santini the amazing painter I met online, now that's a story! We met via this blog and became fast friends. At least a year later (maybe two?) I was asked to teach in Traverse City, MI by the Arts Center there. I asked Kim, "How far is TC from you?" (I know nothing about geography and I'm too lazy to look things up) "I'll pick you up at the airport and we'll drive up together" was her immediate response. I met Kim for the first time the weekend she took my workshop. (Actually I met her for the first time a the bottom of the escalator stairs, I nearly missed her because I was wondering how the heck they suspended granite slabs from the walls of the tiny Flint airport without serious architectural challenges... Good thing she was waving a sign around) 

This August I'll be teaching with the Art Center in Traverse City again, and so will Kim -- same weekend.

And speaking of TC, I'd be remiss if I didn't say how much fun I still have with Katie, our classroom monitor and our social director for the weekend. 

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