For me the most significant change has been the skills I have developed. I was always creative (music, craft, embroidery, etc) but had never really done any drawing other than at school.
Being prepared to create just for the sake of it and understanding that not each piece of artwork has to be a masterpiece. It is okay to draw just for fun or to practice specific skills. To just have a go at creating and see how it goes.
Then at other times, it’s great to be able to able to create the masterpiece. This was really important in the initial stages for me but is also something that I need to go back to now also, especially if I want to develop those sketching skills.
When I first began to draw with you, I never expected to achieve the level of drawing that I have. I am still amazed at what I have been able to achieve such a relatively short space of time. To be now working towards a career change – Instructing your art courses, is something that I never expected to be able to do with my artwork.
One of the main things that I have noticed with your course is that if you are to work through it methodically and carefully, taking it just one little step at a time, you will be successful. Will it take a lot of commitment and time? Yes but it is certainly achievable.
There are a number of things that I feel you do well that assists people (and certainly myself) to succeed and they are outlined below.
- Well sequenced and clear expectations of what’s needed to complete each task.
- Clear, explicit instruction on how to do the tasks. Eg: How to hold a pencil when sketching. What are the different types of marks that can be made with a pencil. What are the different areas of light and shadow on 3D shapes. These are all explained and then clearly demonstrated before students are asked to have a go themselves.
- Sharing of student work on Facebook and in the club was inspirational to me to see. Seeing what others were able to achieve just by working through the course methodically and taking the time to understand and practice each concept and skill really helped a lot, especially if a task looked difficult and I was feeling overwhelmed. By seeing the progress of others, it helps to make the learning less overwhelming. Basically, I thought to myself, ‘Well if they can do it, then, just maybe, I will be able to do it too.’ When my own work was shared by you on your Facebook page, I found it really encouraging and it motivated me to continue on to the next challenge. I think that this also helps people to see that much about drawing is a skill rather than an inherent talent. It is something that anyone can cultivate and when they see multiple people working on the course at the same stage, and others that are slightly ahead, it helps them to see what the possibilities are and that they can indeed work towards that if they would like to just by, ’turning up at the table’ (as you often say).
- The emails and critiques that you send are very specific, encouraging and personalised, meaning that I always know which areas I need to improve on. And if I do not understand, you have always been very approachable when I have asked for clarification. You have a real knack of being extremely encouraging but also saying it how it is if needed too. This creates a friendly, safe environment within which to learn and take risks.
- For me, being able to work at my own pace and at times that suit me, has been crucial. As you would remember, we were in Melbourne at the time and I began learning during the pandemic. If I had had to attend classes or had been locked into regular zoom meetings, I would have had much more difficulty committing due to work and life constraints during that time.
- I have really enjoyed travelling along this journey with someone who shares the same faith. This has enabled more open communication at different times and it is refreshing to work together knowing that we share the same worldview. This was particularly when I was working on my, “little bird’, series.
I have also sometimes noticed that you and I often work/think in a similar way at different times, maybe because of our shared faith. The reasons you suggested Maria as student for me to mentor is exactly what I would done/thought also. And certainly over the last 5 years we have worked together well, trust each other and got to know each other in a pen pal type of way really.
These things and a shared faith were instrumental in my decision to go into the instructor training and take the plunge when you offered it to me.
