The Burning Question: So You Want to Teach...How Do I Prepare for a Class Proposal?

Did everyone survive "Tax Day" ?  Phew..I'm glad it has come to pass and I can continue moving forward in 2015!  For today's post, I wanted to talk about a few  things.  First off, I am having a fun 'Tax Relief' sale over at Creative Workshops (or in my online shop) featuring all of my Creative Workshops online classes. I do offer classes in other venues so not to confuse anyone but the sale is for the CW classes only.  Save up to 25% off all of my classes including my Podtastic class (featured at 20% off the regular price).  If you are looking for some inspiration using mixed media painting applications, techniques galore, abstract, collage, faces and more--stop by HERE or click the image to be taken to the shop.

Perhaps online classes aren't your thing...I have a couple of spots open in my Funky Little City Scapes this Satruday, April 18th at Jerry's Artarama, in Raleigh, NC.  The class is a full day mini city painting extravaganza, full of great techniques and of course, tons of fun!

For registration and more information, click HERE to be taken to the class page.

Grunge Ink coming to the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida this June!

Okay...On to the topic of the day:

How Do I Create a Class Proposal

Speaking of classes,  recently I was asked by a past student of mine about sending in class proposals to teach at a small shop. What was involved? How do I price my classes and how do I ensure I make a profit in doing so?  I  thought that if one person had this question, perhaps a few others of you may have this same question, so today I'm going to share a few tips to help you gather your thoughts and wrap your arms around what you need to do get started teaching what you love.

Disclaimer-this list is in no way all inclusive nor does it mean that this is the only way to do this, it merely is a sharing of my own experiences. I've been teaching online for over 7 years and I have taught at large national retreats, mid size galleries and shops, and local and small shops/venues, so while not all inclusive, it is well rounded. 

First Things First

Make sure you are ready to teach your processes. When you embark on a teaching career as an artist, you are inspiring and guiding others to go down a creative path as well. You in a sense, have to be willing to let go of what you do and not hold back the information the students need to be successful. There is a high  likelihood that your designs will be replicated by many and you have to be okay with that as it is the way students learn until they find their own way. If you are not at peace with that thought, than don't teach that what is still too close to you.

1 1 /2 day extended version of Funky Little Beach Scapes at the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida this June. 

How Do I Price My Classes?

Similar to pricing your work, your creative class offerings evolve based on your experience, your credibility, the demand for your services,  and the uniqueness of your class/you in the field you are teaching. One of the best things you can do is to research on your own, artists/instructors that you feel are on the same peer level as you and see what they are charging for their classes.  Be mindful of the length of class, location (is travel or overnight stays required),  size of venue, and what supplies the teacher is expected to provide (if any) to the students.   

All of these factors can effect your prices slightly, however once you have a class outline in place-be very careful of not changing the prices of your class by the venue unless there is a significant reason why you would do so.   

Remember when pricing your classes, to include the prep time it takes to create the class, the samples, travel if needed, the uniqueness of your workshop, and of course profit.    Be very careful when agreeing to do a class that pays by the hour or is asking for multiple days of instruction over a period of weeks.  There's not only a time commitment on your part,  you need to know how many students you will be teaching  and if there are any guarantees for you as an instructor.    I personally do not teach by the hour for a one time event.   The reason is that financially it doesn't make sense to do that nor is it competitive with other classes that I offer both in person and online. 

Twinks on Yupo, an online class over at icreatflix.com

Know What Is Included and Is Expected

Is travel required?  Who pays for any food and lodging that you will incur as an expense?  Is the cost of airfare your responsibility or the venue?  What marketing will you both need to do? Who covers the expense? Do they have a marketing plan in place to promote your event?  You also have to have a marketing plan to be successful.   Will you be providing the supplies? Will the students be bringing their own supplies? Or will the venue be providing the supplies for a cut of your overall class fee? Is there an exclusivity agreement that is required (can you teach your class elsewhere in the area or for a period of time)?  Are you able to charge a fee for supplies you are asked to bring (remember, your supplies used are not free!  Even if you get a sponsor,  and get free supplies, or some samples...there ALWAYS is an expectation for you to do something for those supplies in return which takes time (like sample projects, videos, blog posts, social media promotions).   Be sure to take this into account when pricing your classes at least as an underlying cost of doing business.

I'll be honest, this is an area I am trying to do better in and be more realistic myself.  My inclination in the past is to say YES to everything and figure out the details later, which has left me in a not so great position in some cases.    I've even gone in the 'hole' teaching at certain venues because of not truly figuring out all the expenses before hand.   With that said, there can be reasons why you choose to take a chance on teaching in a location that may not be financially lucrative (long term opportunities, to build your resume, to break into a new market,  to build a student following, to view it as a marketing opportunity, to test out a class process in a small market that you will take and bring to a larger market with additional opportunities).

One of the things I feel I can do better at is having clear expectations on my travel engagements especially and to have an outline on my minimums, expenses, and other variables that I can just send to prospective venues when I am asked to teach.   Some places have very standard contracts in place and they already have those factors outlined, that's not to say you can't negotiate those items if you are called to do so, and other venues sit quietly and let you make the first move  when discussing the financials.  The standards  aren't necessarily even or the same across the board per instructor.  I don't feel this is a bad thing, after all everyone is looking to make a living, but I am saying, that the more prepared YOU are and the more YOU know what you can and can't do...and why, the better off everyone will be and the likelihood everyone will be happy with the arrangement.

Extreme Portraits, an online workshop over at Colourarte.com

Lastly

There are many times when you are called upon to teach what you love that may fall out of the realm of all these guidelines.  For example,  volunteer projects,  demonstrations,  blog post tutorials,  lectures, interviews,  donations, etc.  Many,  if not most, of these opportunities are very worthy of your time, but remember before you say yes to everything, choose your projects wisely and go with what your heart tells you to do. You can get very burnt out by saying yes to it all because as creatives, our hearts are so big and empathetic to all causes and requests for our time and talent, we forget how much energy (time and money) is expended going in a different direction that is not aligned with our goals and aspirations.  Don't make the mistake of undervaluing what you do and come to your agreement to doing something for 'exposure' or for a cause out of fear....make the decision out of love, love for others as much as a love for yourself and your family.  

Teaching other artists to do what you do should also come from a place of love and true desire to share.  Yes...I've talked a lot about the financials and expenditures because I think that artists need to understand & take into consideration all of  these things just as any small business should.  Beyond the financials is the underlying core of your calling. Are you compelled to pass on the torch of creativity?  If so, then proceed on with all that you have within you!   It doesn't make you any less or anymore of an artist if you teach or not teach, it just puts you on a different career path-one that I hope you proceed on with open eyes, an open heart, and a passion that fuels not just you..but all of your students.

Podtastic-one of my newest online classes on sale over at Creative Workshops

Free Worksheet For You To Use:

If you would like additional guidance on how to compile a basic teaching proposal, please check out my PDF worksheet created for you below.  It has tips and suggestions for you that you can amend based on your situation or the request of a particular venue.    

Click here

I hope you found this article insightful. Asking the right questions and knowing what is expected or needed is truly an art in itself!

Do you have a 'Burning Question' around art, the art business, living the creative life?  Drop me a line here in the comments or send me an email at :   jodiohl@hotmail.com

I'd love to hear from you and will be featuring as many questions as I can in upcoming posts, articles, and down the road, classes!


Artfully Yours,

Jodi Ohl


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New in the shop:  Family Matters!

Family Matters 11 x 14 original painting

Burning Question: What Inspires You? My Top Ten Ideas PLUS a special coupon code good this week only!

 As a creative type with a background in business, I like to look back on my progress on a regular basis and share some  'aha' moments with you from time to time. Well, really I try to incorporate my own experiences and nuggets of wisdom whenever possible and enjoy hearing what you are discovering as well, in your own artistic pursuits.  

(as an extra bonus I have a GREAT coupon code for you at the end of this post! :)

My sample for the upcoming ReMe reTREAT in Ocracoke Island, NC

I haven't posted a  "Burning Question" in a while so I thought today I'd bundle one in this post as it kinda relates to my topic of 'aha' moments and nuggets of wisdom I wanted to share.  

"What Inspires You? " asked by Emma

That's a great question and one that never really stays the same or is exactly formulaic if you will.  I can't say, "if I take a walk in the woods and look at textures, I'm inspired to run back to my studio and experiment.....or  anytime I dip my feet into the ocean waters, waves of inspiration pour over me"...do those things happen?  Definitely.  Do I have time for artist 'dates' daily (or even sometimes weekly), no...not always.  So then, where does that inspiration to create come from, especially if you are working on your craft daily for hours and hours at a time?  

I think you pull in inspiration from anything and everything you do.  You have to have your eyes wide open on a moment to moment basis to see things others miss or feel things others may dismiss. 

I have conversations with myself, or with others in my head and then play them out in the studio.  But most of all, I simply show up and do the work.  It really is about creating good working habits for the most part, because the more you do something, the more the doors open for the next  idea and the idea after that. 

And once I have an idea, I try to expand on  multiple times...not necessarily recreating that painting exactly but revising it and seeing what else can I do for as long as I'm excited about a process/composition/topic activity.

You stay inspired when you are excited about something you are doing,  and the flow will continue to feed you with ideas the more regular  you are with showing up to do the work.

Does this mean your faucet will always be on?  No...most definitely not.   I don't want to profess any delusional thoughts to you by saying every day will be rainbows and unicorns in the inspiration category or that you will always feel like going into the studio to create with abandon.   Life will throw you curve balls when you least expect it which will derail you for a time. In those moments, allow yourself a break, a nap, a trip, a artist date, or clear away clutter that is impeding your progress both literally and figuratively.

I'm going through a bit of that myself lately. Clutter and unnecessary activities have put obstacles in my way due to my not being clear on what I want in certain areas or not listening to what signs have been put before me.   I notice when I feel pulled in too many directions, I trip over myself rather than removing the obstacles.   It's hard to be inspired when you are chasing your tail.  When I'm focused and not distracted, at peace and calm.... there's no stopping what I can do. That's when the flow of inspiration gains it's greatest momentum.

 Here are some more tips on how I get inspired or stay inspired:

1) Keep a journal.  Whether it's a visual journal, doodle journal, written one, or some combination of all the above, the act of documenting thoughts, playing with color  or patterns, and getting something-anything on the page, will serve as a source of reference for future projects. Art Journaling is also a good habit that will not only help inspire you, it can help relax your mind.

2)  Plan out your activities and most important tasks each week and build in time to work in your studio to create.  These activities could be both personal and professional. By having a plan, you are creating more likely to accomplish the tasks you need to and leave more room for those that you 'want' to do.  (Note, the need and wants aren't necessarily mutually exclusive..but some may take higher precedence over others.)

3)  Stay well rested, eat well, and exercise regularly.  Your physical and emotional well being plays a big part of your ability to stay inspired among many other things in your life.

4)  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.  The fear of not being perfect can derail your creative activities probably more so than anything else.   I'm not saying give yourself permission to do shoddy work, but give yourself permission to experiment, play with new techniques and compositions,  try new colors, and do all of that over and over again.   Remember, masterpieces are few and far between but remarkable and inspiring work is created everyday..IF...quite frankly, you just go to work without worrying about the outcome.  Worry about the outcome as you finish, not as you start.

5)  Repeat designs and expand the possibilities within a collection.  Sometimes when you are excited about something and have a good plan, you can make it even better the more you tweak it by experimenting.   This is also important when developing a collection.  Tying your work together by repeating color palettes,  themes, motifs, and even designs helps in creating a cohesive collection.  Discover how far you can take those ideas, by taking those ideas far and wide.

6)  Evaluate where the heart strings are being pulled in your every day and professional life.  Saying yes to everything means you are taking time away for the right things.  It's hard to let go of the wrong things, especially if they have meant a lot to you in the past.  The problem though is, you start to loose your focus and hence your inspiration when there is so much going on that your head is spinning.  In fact, it's likely to cause temporary (or long term) paralysis, so to speak, if you are spread too thin.

My sample for an upcoming class this September at Random Arts in Saluda, NC.

7) Surround yourself with people that believe in you and lift you up rather than bring you down.  If you are uninspired...take a pulse on the mood of the world around you.  Negativity from within is poisonous, but when it comes from the outside in, well it can darn right kill you.  

8)  Know that from the outside looking in,   it may seem like everything is a bed of roses for those people you admire. They may  have something you want and  appear as if what they are  just doing is just flowing day in and day out without any hiccups or effortlessly 100% of the time.  This is never true. Those that make things easy,  most likely do so because they are insanely committed to what they do. Your mentors  live and breathe their passion and that is why,  from the outside looking in, it looks so polished and easy.
 If you want something with all your heart and soul, you don't wait until the inspiration hits, you run out and find it by doing the work.

That's the magic sauce most of all...doing the work.  

No one said it was going to be easy.

No one said you are going to have time for it (hey we are all busy!!)

But when it flows and you are in the groove-yes it does flow like a open wide faucet and others will be envious of what you do.   You can lead some people to the water but you can't force them to drink it...they have to do it themselves. You have to do it yourself. 

9)  This is one that I have a hard time with...but I know that when I do this, I am way more inspired then when I don't....keep your space open and neat.  It doesn't have to be spotless or totally clutter free, but at the very least, take time to pick up at the end of the day, clear your desk, put away a few things, throw a few things out on a daily basis, and reclaim your sanity by not tripping over yourself physically.   I'm a work in progress in this bullet point...after I finish writing this post, I'm going to go into the studio and clean up. Going forward, I'm going to take time either on Fridays or over the weekend to really clean up because I think it's important to start your week fresh and create a space you can flourish in.

Featured art in the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors

10)  I was reminded of this last tip by a comment on another post I wrote for ReMe last week. It's important to share what makes us smile with others, those little things that we take for granted on a day to day basis should be celebrated.  Take time out to listen to others, to learn about those we love--to learn about the world around us, and you will be amazed at how you feel (and how you will make others feel by just being there to share back and forth).  Capturing the moments in our lives through our art is why we do what we do...it's a celebration of our history, our point of view, and our dialogue with one another.  What's more inspiring than that?

Last but not least---I wanted to thank my readers for taking time out to follow my blog, newsletter, Facebook, and all the other platforms out there.  I couldn't do this on a day to day basis without you.

Save 20% in my shop all week (including paintings, classes, prints, magnets, cards, supplies) using code "hellospring" at check out.  (custom orders not included).

Stop by and see what's new!

If you would like to share what inspires you or ideas you incorporate to stay inspired, leave a comment here!

Likewise, if you have a "Burning Question" about the art biz, creativity, living the creative life, processes, email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com  . I'd love to hear your thoughts and will incorporate as many questions as possible into my future blog posts.