We never learn anything alone. Even if we are self-taught, our learning involves lessons from nature and all the images, books, videos, and resources that another human has put out there so we can walk the path with them.
From ancient times until social media arrived on the scene, artists learned, worked, and lived in spaces with other artists. The energy of knowledge, discovery, and disappointment was shared and helped to develop the great works of art we see in museums today. I believe that energy needs to be rekindled and not lost in the banality of social media.
As a process and as an end product, art is a social activity, a communication between living beings. The artist's job is to create a visual message.
It doesn't matter if you are a painter or a seamstress or a writer. It doesn't matter if you have been making art for a month or a decade. Art is what you create as a human and it is about your experience of being alive.
In the spirit of sharing that energy of knowledge and discovery, here are a few of the art workshops and communities I found valuable in my own creative path.
I encourage you to find a local art class where you can learn in person. Many community colleges offer classes, as do local libraries, art centers, and even some museums. If you live near Ann Arbor, Michigan, I recommend the in-person workshops offered here. All of the teachers are skilled and you can learn everything from pottery to painting. It is a great way to learn a new medium, brush up on old skills, or just enjoy socializing with other art students. This is where, way back in time, I rediscovered how much I loved drawing. It has been a slippery slope since.
Colored Pencil Workshop at the Ann Arbor Art Center
Snowman Pottery WIP at Ann Arbor Art Center
Sandy offers a selection of online classes in many mediums at all skill levels. She runs the ArtStack newsletter, an online artist community called Artventure, and a wonderful collection of YouTube videos. She makes art fun and approachable for everyone. I credit her for teaching me how to draw dogs.
Laura Horn works in mixed media in a semi-abstract style with botanical themes. Her online workshops are gentle and supportive and just plain beautiful to watch. She also hosts a podcast and has a ton of resources for finding your style and exploring new directions. I revisit her lessons to practice loose seeing in different perspectives.
Zen Garden Watercolor Series
Autumn Afternoon Mixed Media
Louise Fletcher is an abstract artist in the UK. At one time, she ran an online community and held online classes about how to, as she named it, Find Your Joy. She also co-hosted my favorite artist podcast, Art Juice (still available as an archive). Today, she continues to teach via her YouTube videos and blog posts. For me, Louise was my introduction to abstraction as a practice and a way of thinking about the world.
Reflection Series in Acrylic Gouache
