How To Get the Most Out Of Your Art Workshop Experience- Part III

Fun in the Sun
6 x 6 Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello
$100

This is a painting I did this week in the spirit of experimenting after the workshops. I just played around with edges and pops of color for fun without any attempt to being super realistic.

If you've been following my posts the past few days, we covered how to get the most out of your art workshop experience before deciding to go and as you prepare for the workshop. Today we'll focus on how to maximize your learning experience while you are in the workshop.

 During the workshop:

Arrive on time, be prepared and be open to things that might not fit into the way you already know or do things. That’s the whole point of doing this.  An attitude of “ I already know this” is the fastest thing to kill the possibility of growth.  Take on what’s sometimes referred to as a “beginner’s mind”. That’s how master’s grow. They take on that they know nothing and are a sponge to wonder and soak in all sorts of new contributions. Kind of like a child seeing something for the first time.

Take notes on tips and aha’s. Now with an ipad it’s easy to take notes and have them ready to print- no need to try and decipher your handwriting a year from now. I also take photos of various steps along the way during a demo so I can be reminded of the process used.

Get to know other participants in the workshop. Sometimes you can learn as much from them as you do from the instructor. And I have developed friendships that go back 15 years with people I met at workshops. The experience can often be a bonding one between kindred spirits. Often emails are shared at the end of the workshop and in this time of social media, you can stay connected via Facebook and other on-line communications.

Keep a positive attitude. Don’t expect to do any masterpieces or even anything of your usual caliber. You are in a new place with lots of distractions and trying new methods and materials, possibly even new subject matter. The first time you tried to drive a car it didn’t go that smoothly did it?So cut yourself some slack. Just go to learn and have fun and it will be worthwhile. You will probably see most of your growth after the workshop,

In the next and final post in this series, I'll share some tips for how to keep the learning going once you get home.

Feel free to share any other tips that have been helpful to you and might be useful to others reading this blog. Thank you!