Are You Interested in taking an in person art workshop or going to an art retreat but have some hesitations?

Read on for some helpful tips to make the most of your experience.

Art Workshops & Retreat Experience 101
Taking a leap of faith to register for an Art Workshop out of state or near your home can be intimidating. Often students are filled with anxiety when trying something new or investing in an experience they’ve never done before.

Questions often pop up such as:

How do I travel with paints/art supplies?

What if I am the beginner in a room of experts?

What if I don't have anyone to talk to?

What if I forget something on the supply list?

In person classes are expensive, are they really worth it?

The list can go on and on but let's stop there and take a deep breath.

The first rule of the day is to let go, make friends, and realize that going to an in person art workshop or retreat is good for your soul. Remember your energy you bring to the event will effect your overall experience (and that of others).

Here are a few other tips to make the most out of the experience when taking a new course (art or otherwise).

Packing:

Share supplies:

Depending on what type of class you are taking, there probably will be a supply list of some sort. If you are going with a friend or meeting up with one, try sharing tools and supplies that you will be needing so it’s less of an expense for you both. Split the supply list in half and the overall burden of carrying a lot of supplies will be greatly reduced.

Speaking of packing, most of my advice is around painting supplies but I’m sure you can adjust methods based on what type of class you are taking.

Flying with paint:

For acrylic paints, open the bottles and squeeze out a little air (fluid acrylics) before replacing the lid tightly. Next, wrap the top of the paint bottle with saran wrap before bagging a few bottles in a quart clear storage bag. I then place all my paints in a sturdy but small plastic bin and place inside of my hard shell suitcase.. It’s a good idea to attach a note for TSA to let them know what your bin contains. Or print a TSA travel guide for your pigments which can be attained from most manufacturers and tape to the top of the container. I’ve had a lot less paint messes when traveling since incorporating this packing method. If there is a mishap with spilled paint, it’s more contained.

Pack a few extra storage bags and packing tape for your return trip to make repacking easier.

Other supply notes-don’t bring your entire studio!

I know it’s tempting but it is usually unnecessary to bring every supply under the sun! You want to be able to move with ease and very often, space is at a premium when you are attending a class (especially if it’s filled to capacity). With that said, if you have tools that you can’t live without (favorite brushes, paint colors, stencil you love), bring what makes you feel comfortable but NOT overwhelmed.

This topic is robust in itself with a lot more tips to make traveling to an event easier but for let’s save that for a longer article down the road.

Skill Level

Another common fear among workshop participants is the possibility of being the beginner in a room of experts, or at least that’s the story we tell ourselves which translates to are we ‘enough’?

Having led art workshops for adults for the last 10 years (not college classes), I do find each class has a wide variety of students attending with a diverse skill level. One of the best things I’ve witnessed (because of this diversity), is a feeling of support and inclusion of everyone! People are more than willing to help if you need something or don’t understand a process. You often learn so much from the person sitting next to you or by walking around and seeing what others are doing. Other students truly enjoy sharing tips they’ve learned, or helping others that may need a little extra reassurance.

Don’t be afraid of being new to a particular genre, just be yourself and enjoy the experience and trust you will learn something along the way. Comparing yourself to others leads to despair. Compare and despair is a very real path to unhappiness. The only person you should be comparing yourself with is yourself and how much you’ve grown or learned since ‘yesterday’.

Granted, if you moan and groan about how much you hate you work and how this just isn’t for you, you may not feel the warm embrace of others.

Remember, your energy (attitude) affects others in the room so be mindful of what type of vibe you put off.

Be a Student

By this, I mean pay attention to what your teacher is saying in class and not have a side conversation with your buddy while a demonstration is occurring or a lecture is being given. It’s not only disrespectful to other students who paid to be there, too, but distracting and disrespectful to the instructor.

Take notes, ask questions, and follow directions, watch what the instructor is doing, how they are moving their brush-basically observe and interact at the appropriate times.

Even if you think you know how to do something, embrace the way the instructor shows you how to do XYZ , for the course. After all, you did pay to learn from that teacher and not someone you saw on ‘YouTube’ a few weeks ago. There are many ways to do things, and one way may or may not be better than the other, but for the sake of following the lessons, try following the approach your instructor takes. There may be a method behind their madness that you may not realize until the entire demonstration or workshop plays out.

You can always adjust the technique or process later to a way you find better suited to how you work or how you like to work.

Make Friends

Speaking of talking to others, when there isn’t a demonstration occurring during your workshop, take time out to get to know your fellow students.

There will be plenty of opportunities during works sessions, lunch, or after class is over, to engage with others and make new friends. Listen, ask questions, share ideas, tell stories, and embrace the fact you are in a room with others that have similar likes as you do.

What better place to make friends even if you are traveling solo. At lunch or dinner, try sitting next to someone different each day to get to know a variety of students instead of falling into a comfort zone. Trade emails, phone numbers and you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to connect with others while taking a workshop or attending a retreat.

Some of my best friend in the world are those that I’ve connected with through classes and retreats I’ve attended or hosted. It’s been one of my greatest joys I’ve been able to experience in my adulthood outside of my family of course.

What if I Forget Something

Trust me, you will forget something. We all do, almost every time. Most of the time it’ll be okay because either you really didn’t need it or can easily make a substitution, or someone will have an extra brush/paint color/canvas in their stash which you can use.

You want to be as prepared as possible, but don’t over stress if you left something behind. Chances are there are stores where you are heading and you can pick up whatever you forgot easily enough.

If you are going to an extended stay retreat or workshop, generally your hosts will send out some travel or packing tips ahead of your trip. Take a few minutes out to google the area you will be visiting, see what types of stores, restaurants, tourist spots are in the area and make a mental list of things you might want to do if there is time, or how far certain amenities are if you truly need to grab a forgotten bottle of shampoo or the luscious teal paint you can’t live without.

In Person Workshops are Expensive, are they Worth It

There is no doubt that traveling for a multi-day workshop (especially if you have to fly and secure lodging), the cost can add up quickly. Finding an instructor, a topic you are interested, and destination that makes sense for you, is all part of the planning and researching you would do for an event you are seeking to attend. Just like a vacation, do your research and choose the event that fits your budget and interest.

Be sure to get on a mailing list of the instructor you are following or destination host site you are looking to visit. Many offer early bird specials when a workshop is first released or may have other bonuses like an onsite lodging that costs less than a hotel would. You may also be able to reach out to the host or instructor to see if there are any students that might like to room together to cut down on lodging expenses.

Just like going to a concert or watching a play, there is a different synergy you experience during a live class or retreat. The excitement and thrill of being around so many creative individuals can be so uplifting!

In most classes, you will receive one on one tutelage from your instructor or ask questions in the moment. Those are components often missing from many online classes or videos. There often is a huge benefit of receiving human connection with others who share similar interests that outweighs the cost hands down.

Feeding Your Passion

I’ve also met a lot of folks that say that workshops are about the only time the really get to take for ‘me time’ when it comes to creativity. Filling your soul with something you are passionate about, in the company of others, is priceless.

If you are a working artist or an educator yourself, you may be able to account for some or all of your expenses of educational workshops or other activities that count towards your skill advancement. Consult with your accountant to see this expense is something your business can deduct.

Other ways to pay for your workshops is through grants available for working artists or certain hobbyist that are looking to become full time artists. Take the time to do a little research to find organizations or non profits that provide grants for people like you.

Have Fun. Explore. Take a Leap of Faith.

Only you can decide if investing in an art workshop or retreat is right for you. Hopefully, I’ve provided some helpful tips and talking points to make you feel more informed to make the decision that is best for you.

Of course, I am biased as I hope to meet YOU or reconnect in person down the road at an event where we can sling paint and have fun together.

In case you are interested…..

I have a few upcoming workshops and a very special retreat in North Carolina coming up in the next few months. If you are ready to join in one of these experiences, links are provided for you to register or to find more information easily. Hope to see you ‘there’.

MARCH

Digging Deeper Just 3 spots remain.

Hosted by Artworks Vass, Vass, NC.

March 21st-23, 2020

For more information or to register, Click HERE.

APRIL

Abstracts in Coldwax and Oil Painting.

A few spots are open waiting just for YOU!

Hosted by Donna Christine (Downey) Studios in Lincolnton, NC.

April 17th-19th, 2020. Use a new Cold Wax Piece for imagery.

Robust studio experience, most supplies included, chef catered luncheon, snacks and more!

Read on for more information or to Register by clicking HERE.

APRIL/ MAY

ReMe Retreats-Flagship Retreat in Ocracoke 2020

Semi-All Inclusive, Come stay and create during this immersive experience!

Hosted by Jodi Ohl, Jean Skipper and Debbie Keen of ReMe Retreats.

Ocracoke Island, NC (The Outer Banks of North Carolina).

April 27th through May 2nd , 2020.

3 spaces remain

For more information or to register, click HERE. Payment plans are available!

Until Next Time,

Jodi