August 28, 2006

Can you believe this is the last Monday in August? Next week will be September and the responsibilities that come with autumn will weigh heavily for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Not that we don't have the same responsibilities in summer, but they feel lighter, less urgent during the longer hours of sunlight.

Fall is also back-to-school time. Although I've been out of school for a long time, I still feel the urge to buy new outfits and school supplies. Sounds like the perfect time to think about teaching. The perfect time for you to consider this most noble profession.

Teaching art to someone else does at least three things for you:

1. It forces you to learn more. You must be current and more efficient when you teach. They say if you want to remember something, repeat it and teach it to someone else right away. In order to be more proficient at your art, teach it to another. In order to be more articulate and confident about your art, teach it to another.

2. It establishes you as an expert. You become the go-to person in your town, city, region, or niche market. You can't buy advertising that valuable.

3. It builds your audience. Remember how devoted you were/are to your teachers? I wrote not too long ago about the influence of two of my art teachers who died last year. A good teacher breeds a flock of eager, loyal students who help spread the word. Before you know it, you're famous!

Of course, not everyone is cut out for teaching. You must be patient, generous, kind, and confident. You must also be organized and willing to promote the heck out of your classes and workshops. While intended for schoolteachers, click here for an excellent list of admirable teaching traits.

Teaching, of course, comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. You can mentor, tutor, hold small classes in your studio, teach at an existing institution, or lead adventures all over the world. The longer you're in it, the more rewards you'll reap from teaching. Like everything else, it's a commitment.

We'll be looking more at these aspects of teaching in upcoming issues.

If you already teach, I need to hear from you. Visit the Art Biz Blog.

"Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach."
-- Aristotle