What I learned teaching a class or hosting a workshop
For me art is freedom, joy, the best class during school when I was growing up. Until I was in high school with a particular teacher but that is a different story. Art was my favorite subject/activity not only because I was good at at but because there was no right or wrong way when it comes to art. You can’t get it wrong because it is subjective overall. Look at the people who became filthy rich from a banana taped on a wall or a simple painting of splattered paint. Beauty is the eye of the beholder.
When I was an art instructor at Painting with a Twist Edgewood. I learned that people are just there to have a good time for the most part but there are also people who want an amazing painting and tend to be hard on themselves when it comes to painting. I noticed that during the kids parties the children are just having fun and they are secure and confident in their painting. However, with the adults not so much. They want perfection and expect perfection since they paid for this particular service. My job was to show them a good time while also guide them to paint something. I was not allowed to paint for them like physically show them on their canvas how to hold their paint brushes or do a particular paint stoke or provide too much one-on-one attention considering there is a time limit of two hours. I also learned that people participating in paint parties do not take care of paint brushes like I would or someone who has a passion for art.
While teaching an art lesson where someone is wanting to enhanced their skills in drawing or painting there is more enjoyment while learning. The student(s) aren’t comparing their skills with others in the class. And depending on their age they take more care in the art supplies to make sure they last a bit longer. Students who are in elementary and middle school tend to be more hard on paint brushes and other art supplies. Which is why I purchase wholesale supplies or cheaper supplies when teaching that age group. I also learned that they want to know the name of different types of brushes, pencils, markers, etc. and what they are best used for. Children are like sponges and love to create art, use colors, and don’t mind getting paint in their nails.
It is best to know your audience and their skill set. Good to make the assumption that they are a beginner and teach that way cause not everyone will know what filbert brush is useful for blending or a deer foot is a multipurpose brush used for stippling. Layman terms works best for beginner classes and especially painting parties or workshops. Be the life of the party because they don’t care about art terminology or color theory. Students, guests or clients want to have a good time regardless if they are there to improve their skills or sip an alcoholic drink while painting.