The Workshop

Art might be fun to explore and introduce to others. But, learning traits vary widely from person to person. That’s why it’s difficult to teach art to a diverse group of people and reach them all equally without varying your approach. Being prepared and remaining flexible are vital to running a great art workshop.

There are artists who can learn different techniques from simply watching a demonstration. From your canvas to theirs, they quickly pick up on the instruction and run with it. They can read about art concepts in a book and immediately understand the complex issues inherent in light and shadow methods, one and two dimensions, concrete and abstract styles as well as any other scheme they set out to learn. This type of learner is known as a visual learner and other forms of learning are difficult for them.

When setting up a workshop with a visual learner present, simply place your canvas in broad view. When you are demonstrating a stroke technique or pointing out how to create the impression of dimension, allow everyone to watch you as you perform. Your visual learners will react much better at watching you than anything you are trying to explain to the other people in your workshop. So, don’t get distracted when they are ready to try your technique without hearing the rest of your explanation. Chances are, they already understand.

Some people in your workshop will listen to you and they will try to ask questions and repeat concepts you’ve mentioned. They need to talk themselves through what they’ve learned and they need your patience. While your visual learners will want to go ahead and begin painting, your auditory learners won’t feel comfortable denting their canvas until the new information is solid in their brain. Your flexibility will really come in handy.

After you have finished explaining an art concept and your visual learners are already painting, walk around the room and look for anyone who might have a question they want to ask you in private. Most auditory learners realize that too many questions annoy a group of people who want to move forward, so they are willing to wait until they get a one-on-one with you. But, they need that one-on-one and to make your workshop successful, you need to provide that time. An art workshop is perfect for giving you the time to teach and then walk around so that you can deal with certain individuals on a personal basis.

There are learners in your group who will pick up some of what you are trying to explain and a little on what you’ve demonstrated to them, but they learn by doing. Mostly, they are patient people who know that you have to explain your lessons to some people and you have to demonstrate your lessons to others. But, they won’t really learn anything until they put that knowledge to use. As opposed to the visual learner, a kinesthetic learner will most likely not be too good on the first try.

As you roam throughout the workshop looking for the auditory learners who will need to ask questions, keep an eye out for the kinesthetic learners who are working through the brush stroke or the shadowing technique you just taught. They won’t want to ask questions necessarily. But, they will want another demonstration. Possibly even a hands-on demonstration. Grab the brush with their hand and model the motion.

Workshops are absolutely perfect for dealing with any type of learner you might find. Workshops are even so flexible, they allow for individuals to help each other. When someone who is learning has time to help someone else, it enforces learning for both. Simply facilitate the workshop and allow for a free flowing exchange between artists. The outcome will be the same. Everyone will experience art at their own level and you’ll get all the credit. You can’t beat that!