Don't Cap Off.

If you don't set yourself up for growth, you'll cap.  Earlier this week, I wrote about sketching.  Many people believe that if you sketch daily, you'll become a better drawer.  Maybe for a while, but you'll cap if that's all you're doing. Private lessons are like that too.  You can only learn so much from the instructor. You'll become a lot like the instructor, but you won't grow past that.  The instructor has room for growth, too.  We all do.  Art is a never-ending journey of growth.  

So how does one grow in artistry?  

Artists need a community of artists.  A teacher is an important part of that community, but you also need classmates.  It never ceases to amaze me how much students learn from each other.  I hear, on a daily basis, things like: 

• "That was such a good idea!"
• "How did you do that?"
• "Where did you get your inspiration from?"
• "Can you show me how you did that?"

These conversations are imperative for growth, and they happen not only in classes, but in Open Studio.  In a lot of ways, Open Studio offers even more of these types of learning opportunities because everyone in there is doing something different.  One person might be drawing, another painting, another sculpting, etc.
Teachers are important because they present you with an artistic problem to solve, but the rest of your community shows you how there are a multitude of answers.

At Kate's Art School, we offer Open Studio every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm.  During that time, students can use any tools, materials, and equipment on site.  They can ask for consult and even enjoy a beverage during there stay.  Secure your spot for Open Studio here.