Art Instruction Shouldn't Hurt Anyone

I taught 4 private painting parties over the last 2 weekends. Some interesting comments were made, that I would like to address.  At EVERY one of those 4 parties, someone mentioned a painting class they had taken in the past. I was appalled. (disclaimer: I have no idea who these instructors are, or what studios they may have been affiliated with. This is not a personal attack on anyone, just commentary on how my beliefs as an instructor do not align with the instructors mentioned here.) 

Last week, I did a team building painting class for a local company. One man said that they had done the same activity a couple years prior. In that class, the instructor actually TOOK the paint brush from his hand - a grown man - and told him he was "painting it wrong" and "doing too many swirls." Then the instructor and assistant cut him off from white paint because he had used "too much." At the 3 other parties, comments ranged from "you're so much easier to work with than the last teacher I took a class from" to "she said I was doing it wrong." 

I'm sorry - but WHAT WERE THESE INSTRUCTORS THINKING? There is NO WRONG in art!!  It is a process .. a journey, that is meant to be savored and enjoyed.

My favorite quote from Bob Ross is "There are no mistakes - just happy accidents." As an art instructor, my job is to guide you, teach you techniques, and let you explore - never to tell you "how to do it right."  I'll give you my opinions, maybe explain what I may do with something, or give you a few options to try. I try never to touch your canvas with a paint brush. It's your canvas and your art - if I start "fixing" things or showing you techniques directly on your canvas, it starts to become my art. That's not what you're coming to a class for!

I have three goals for each class or party:
1) I hope that each client enjoys themselves and conversation with other clients.
2) That you get involved with and appreciate the journey we are on together. 
3) I hope that everyone leaves with some art they like.

The last is not very possible without the other two. Sometimes even when we've had a good time, we still end up with art we're not very happy with. It happens to me quite a bit! But if someone can say "well, it didn't turn out the way I hoped, but I had fun" then it was a successful class for that person.  On the other side of the coin, I guarantee, if I take a brush out of someone's hand and say they're "doing it wrong," and make them miserable during class, they will leave with a piece of art they hate.

I guess what I'm saying here is that maybe some of the instructors in the past have given you a bad taste. I'm here to change that for you. Classes with me are a safe space to explore your art as you see fit. I'll give you tips, techniques, guidance and "what I might do here is..." but I will never ever tell you you're doing it wrong. As far as I see it, if you're creating art, you're doing EVERYTHING RIGHT! <3