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I frequently get requests from painters to study painting with me. I've always been honored by this and, recalling how helpful some outdoor lessons with R.A. Moseley, an early teacher of mine, had been, I've always said yes. Whenever I cant it’s always my privilege to support artists in developing their artistic expression. That said, over this past winter I began to carefully consider whether technical art instruction is truly the best way for me to do this.

These days there’s not much in the way of instruction that can’t be found in widely available instructional videos or art center classes. But past a  beginning point of understanding how to make a painting, I believe learning new techniques isn’t so important. What’s more valuable to the intermediate or advanced painter is the practice of looking, seeing, feeling, and being in service to the Art Idea that’s seeking expression through you. As a self-taught artist, I know it’s not only possible to learn by doing your own art (a lot of it!) but also necessary. Many student artists get stuck in trying to learn various techniques and sidestep engaging one’s deeper self.

In my experience, the art-making process is primarily a solitary, spiritual sort of activity, one that requires discipline and fortitude and one that also generates a fair amount of resistance. It’s also been my experience that a certain kind of help – art-mentoring –  can be vital when trying to push past the resistance to taking the next step in making art. I find that much of the time when people come to me seeking classes or lessons, they’re (often unconsciously) looking to me to provide a structure in which they can engage their art more deeply. The “lesson” gives them permission to spend time making art in the presence of a dedicated artist. Focusing on technique, however, doesn’t fulfill their real artistic need. Over the course of a lesson, I usually learn that what’s really being called for in my students in not a better way to design the canvas or apply paint, but a deeper relationship with the art that wants to be made.

So, I’ve decided not to offer lessons or classes that focus on technique any longer, but to draw on my past career as a spiritual mentor to help facilitate individuals’ artistic process. My art mentoring consists of one or more consultations that center around whatever issue seems to challenge artistic expression at the moment. Art mentoring clients are often artists who are experiencing some kind of creative block. I help my clients explore the roots of their resistance and find strategies for breaking through into new forms of expression. Sometimes clients want to understand their art work better by bringing in examples to discuss. And, as part of the mentoring process, a client may actually make some art in a session, pick my brain about how I approach a painting, and other juicy topics. You can get more of a sense of my approach by reading my recently published book, 7 Habits of Deeply Fulfilled Artists: Your Aesthetic Needs & How to Meet Them. (2012, Clear Light Press).

As this is usually far different from what most of my would-be students mind, I understand completely if they want to look elsewhere for instruction. (I can recommend some excellent technique instructors.) If, however, when what I’ve written here applies, art mentoring offers a bold next step toward fulfilling your art destiny. If you'd like to know more about my art mentoring service, including fees and availability, simply contact me through my website or be clicking here.

All my best,

Ellie

P.S. You might also be interested to know about a workshop I’ll be offering this September as part of the Alcona Arts Retreat in Northeast MI. This will be an outdoor painting workshop that focuses on process rather than technique. Please let me know if you’d like to know more about this or anything else I’ve written about here.