Need advice - what to do, what not to do, teaching adults

[Surfinia]

I have never taught painting, and have only been to one class myself (a dud!). What I've learned has been from books and here on WetCanvas.

This week I was asked to teach a watercolor class at a craft shop where most of the painting classes are acrilics - tole painting and other folk art. (My painting is fine art, rather than folk art, but the promoter seems to think this is okay.)

The shop wants to advertise that the students will work on a painting presented at the class - in other words, they won't be doing their own thing - I'll need to do a sample painting and then walk them through the steps to create one for themselves.

Do you have any advise for me about this? Any tips - anything not to do?

I have a concern is that it won't take all that long for the class to produce a painting, and that probably they'll be finished before the four sessions are over. So, maybe I need to have preliminary lessons before introducing the "painting".

Any advice you can pass on to me would be appreciated. This is a great opportunity for me and I think I'll like teaching, but with so little experience as a student, I'm not sure how these kind of classes are structured.

I guess I'm rambling, so I'll quit. Thanks for your help.

[inisheerstudio]

What about the students painting one painting per class or the opportunity to? Each could work at their own pace but how fun it would be to try and work a painting in one class....work on being loose.....free expression?

OR The first class you could do a demo plus have them do some sketches....then ask them to look for a photo of a landscape or object to bring to class for the second class or ask to bring to first class.....and just feel out what they are looking for.

Good luck! I know I don't like sitting in a class and having the instructor taking up the whole class demonstrating because the instructor can help individually....I'm ready for hands on! But that's just me. Just some ideas....have fun!

:D

[llis]

Moondance is right.... the students will come with the expectations of painting that very first day. Most don't want to watch a demo until they begin to understand how involved painting really is.

For the first day, I think I would choose a simple landscape for them to work on. I'd get them settled in and ask them to get out their supplies right off. I'd have overlays ready for them to transfer line drawings to their canvas. I think I would walk them thru each step of the painting and you paint along with them. Tell them that all of the paintings will turn out differently because, it will reflect their artistry much like their signature does.

Each phase of the painting can be opportunities for you to tell them what is important to learn. When they have all the elements of the landscape blocked in and they are ready to refine, you can talk about how the sun effects the landscape and ask them to identify how the sun hits all the elements and how they will handle it. I can see where this one landscape could take up an entire 6 weeks.... or they can finish one a day and watch progress from day to day as they understand how to build a painting. Maybe you could give them the opportunity to begin anew each day or continue to work on the ones they have started. Some will want to take their painting further, some will just want to slap that paint on.

It will be a really good experience for you Nina. When I tried this, I really learned a lot... about painting.... about people...and about myself.

[Surfinia]

Thanks Llis and Moondance. You've given me food for thought.

With this type of class, where the expectation is not on an ongoing learning experience but in producing something to take home, the lesson time needs to be short with lots of hands-on.

It certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for me to plan for a different painting each session. If someone takes more time, that's even better, but at least those who speed through things would be satisfied (even if I suggest they try it again the next session).

Thanks for your help. I'm still nervous, but at least now I have a plan.

[llis]

Good luck. :)

How about slipping a camera into your classroom and let us see what your students are doing. I always love these shots.

[Yielding]

I agree Surf - how about some pics if you get the chance?

Good luck and have fun with it :)

[Surfinia]

Pics?

Maybe - but I think I'll be too nervous to think about anything else but just getting through the class time.

Besides, my digital camera's broken.

[bswilson1147]

I teach watercolor to adults and have been doing so for about 8 years. This semester I have about 50 students of all ages.

We complete a small painting every week, even the first week.

One fun painting to do on the first lesson is fish. Take 1 or 2 patterns of fish from a coloring book or just make up some fish shapes. Fish are easy to draw, so have them draw three different fish (going different directions). They should take up most of the page. You can also show them how to draw a few long leaves. Paint the background with water, then paint with cerulean blue. Sprinkle with alcohol. Let dry. Then paint the fish any way you want using bright colors. Then paint the leaves (drop in green and yellow) and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

[anita]

Just wondered how you did at teaching your art classes..I've been teaching art for years..It's always a challenge to juggle things..

[Surfinia]

Anita, There were internal problems at the shop where the classes are held, so I've ended up not teaching - at least for now. I'm giving them a couple months to get things straightened out and maybe think about it then.

In the meantime, I've had an oppoprtunity to take some classes myself. And I'll pay attention to their teaching methods, too.

I do appreciate the responses to this thread and have printed out the advice for future reference.

Thanks

[Alan Cross]

Thats funny I had to do the same thing and its becuse those painters are so used to painting from a pattern...I did a painting then did black and white photo copy's and gave them that to work from....it seemed to work and they all had fun.....
Alan :)

[pampe]

aw, too bad, surfinia

better luck next time!

[Alan Cross]

Originally posted by Surfinia
Anita, There were internal problems at the shop where the classes are held, so I've ended up not teaching - at least for now. I'm giving them a couple months to get things straightened out and maybe think about it then.

In the meantime, I've had an oppoprtunity to take some classes myself. And I'll pay attention to their teaching methods, too.

I do appreciate the responses to this thread and have printed out the advice for future reference.

Thanks

Sorry to hear your class was not held we must have posted at the same time as I didn't see it was a no go when I posted......oh well its also lots of fun to take classes...I like trying new artists but I usually have to travel to get good ones....
Alan :)