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This is part two of a twelve part blog series on how to bring the practice of art-making back into your life, after a hiatus. I am a painter, but this can really apply to any creative person, e.g. a musician,sculptor, or writer. 

2. Teach

"What is this?" asked the man somewhere in his forties of a painting at the art exhibition.

 "Its Celtic art" replied his son. 

"No it isn't" he said. "It's crap." Then he looked at me and he must have seen the reaction on my face, for he asked,
"Is this yours?"

"Yes."

Uh, its good...uh.."

He vanished. 

I was 16 years old and it was my first group art exhibition. I had spent weeks on this painting that was inspired by an ancient Irish manuscript known as the Book of Kells. Some of the designs on this painting were so tiny, you almost needed a magnifying glass to see them. In fact, I had painted them using a magnifying glass. When I arrived at the exhibition, I found they had hung my painting upside down. 

That same painting won first prize at an art fair several months later. 

To bring your art into the public, you will need a thick skin. Teaching will help develop that. 

Teaching, even if you have no experience in this area, has some huge rewards for the artist.
I started teaching over a year ago. When I applied for a contractor's position at a local paint and sip franchise, I thought it wouldn't be a huge deal. I saw the types of paintings I would be doing,they looked simple, so no biggie! 

However, I was one of those artists that would hug their sketch pad close to them when drawing and I would stop if anyone approached to see what I was doing. If anybody watched me, my drawing suffered.I never showed my art in progress to anyone. I sold my pieces online,so I could avoid talking to people about it! My extremely sheltered childhood background no doubt contributed to this.

My first class consisted of 15 - 20 people. I was so nervous, my hand shook and the lines were shaky on the canvas. Right when I saw that, I knew that I had to stay, I had to continue. 

My goal was simply to keep painting until my hands stopped shaking.


A few months later, I was able to talk and paint comfortably in front of sixty people. There is a possibility that in a couple months I will have to instruct 80 people at a corporate event! I am really excited to do this. To think of all these newcomers to art. For most of them, it will simply bea relaxing time with co-workers. And it is so satisfying to give them a good time, but it is especially rewarding when a person comes to me and says "I haven't painted in 20 years, and I just needed this to get me started again!" Or they  will say "I really loved this. What should I do to continue painting, and how can I make this a part of my life?" I feel like I am making a difference. 

My original goal was to continue teaching until I had overcome my fear of painting in front of other people. But it has become something much, much huger for me. 

Here are some benefits:

a) teaching involves you in the community. You will talk and network with a lot of people.b) you are seen as an expertc) explaining something in simple terms to amateurs strengthens your own skill and informs your practice. It brings you back to the core elements of your craftd) teaching, and imparting knowledge, is one of the most enriching experiences I have ever participated in. Try it.You will find yourself becoming accepting of your own mistakes. When you accept your mistakes, you loosen up. When you loosen up, you bring the fun back, the spontenaity, and you will find yourself making much more art.e) You will become more generous.
Generosity is really what it is all about. For too many years, people have seen the artist as a lonely genius, jealously guarding her secrets, starving and painting in some cold attic. She only achieves fame after she dies.We really need to do away with this notion. Share! Share your process, share your art. 

I would estimate I have instructed 2500 people. I can draw with my body in just about any position now! I can stretch over 2 people to reach that third person and draw a tree on their canvas. I can stand holding a painting on my knee, look down, and do a complete drawing. (I have yet to try drawing in a back flip). Teaching gives you a confidence you never knew you possessed! 

Painting in front of other people shakes you up and breaks you out of your rut!

I used to watch those other painters who brought their easels out into the public with a mixture of envy and horror.

I am now bringing MY easel out into the open. I am joining a plein air sketching group. I am painting at my local art museum. I am speaking fearlessly to other artists, gallery owners, and art buyers. I bring my sketch pad with me everywhere.

Try it. As Tony Robbins has said, you haven't really decided something until you have taken some kind of action.