Public commentary

[Enzie Shahmiri]

It is nice to see artistic interest at such a young age and I think it is great Mike that you have encouraged her with the still life.

I wonder if her mother would let her attend private art lessons, if you offered them at a reasonable rate. I don't know if you have a teaching background or not, but your work is that of an accomplished artist and I am sure you could pass along your knowledge just fine.

It would be a shame for this girl's talent to go to waste or her creativity stifled by someone who does not share the same enthusiasm for painting as you do.

[Mike McCarty]

Debra,

Just look at this face on the left, how could you not trust this mug? A rhetorical question, please don't answer.

Enzie,

Kids seem to have natural connection with the process of art. I see it every day though not to the extent that this little girl exhibited. This encounter gave me a particular thrill.

I have had many people ask if I would consider teaching. After this episode I am giving it a stronger consideration. I'm not a trained master teacher but it would not keep me from giving up what I know to a few kids on a Saturday morning. The Windsor Market has indicated that they would support this and would handle the scheduling, money collection and promotion. Although the market does not get a cut of my commissions they would take their 8% for the above duties. This is the standard commission on all sales at the market. It's too bad that I may never see this particular little girl again.

[Tom Edgerton]

Mike--

Last night I dragged in from traveling overnight to photograph a little girl for a portrait. And found this post waiting on the forum.

It really gave me a lift, and a smile inside.

Vita brevis, ars longus.

Thanks--TE

[Mike McCarty]

Tom,

Cum conscius a um, non omnis moriar.

When my knowledge is shared with others, I shall not completely die.

[Margaret Port]

Mike,

I taught children's and adult art classes for about 10 years, driven by my own enthusiasm and experiences but always apologetic that I wasn't a trained art teacher. Guess what! I went off to university to learn how to do it properly and finished up so involved in the process and outcomes of teaching that I forgot "my drive".

The consensus among my students was that I was much more able to inspire them before I got educated. Go for it. You have a marvelous talent and if you don't pass on your skills, who else will?

There is a website www.gauvin.com.au where the artist, in her "ARTLIFE" newsletter, has some entertaining stories about "public commentary." Go to the 'Could you use some tips from a master painter' section. She has just updated her webpage so if you have trouble subscribing, email her and she will send you a password.

[Mike McCarty]

Margaret,

I don't know if I ever mentioned it but I have been to your fair city. Just a brief touch down on the way to Brisbane and Sydney, we never even got off the plane. All I remember about the event is that someone came onto the plane and sprayed us (literally) with disinfectant.

Wouldn't it be great to have a room full of kids like my buddy Paige above? I do love the kids. It reminds me of a short poem by Ogden Nash:

The trouble with a kitten is that
it eventually becomes a cat.

Thanks for the encouragement and I'll check out the link you included. I may try and spread some knowing to a few young ruffians. What's the worst that could happen? They could swarm me, draw ugly pictures on my forehead (mural size).

What would you say was the main difference between teaching the kids and the adults? Which did you prefer?

Have a gday.

[Kimberly Dow]

Mike,

My youngest "rugrats" class this summer were 5-8 year-olds. I had 12 of them, (luckily a few dropped out by the 2nd month), and it was great fun. I intended to stick to just drawing skills, but they got antsy so I went ahead and put down rolls of plastic & let them go to town with the paint. The class was an hour long once a week. For most the hour was fine, but for a couple it was too long. The trick is to take the kids that are interested in art, not the ones the parents are forcing. I can spot the ones that are not interested, but I havent figured out how to say no to the parents politely.

"Ms. Kim, I lost a tooth, wanna see?"
(not really)

"Can I sing you the song I learned?"
(No, save that for your grandparents)

"I don't wanna draw that fruit, I wanna draw a rainnnnbooowwww."
(Draw a *&!@ rainbow at home)

"Ms. Kim, I'm afraid of your bathroom"
(Ummm, ok. Hold it?)

The older kids were great. Very creative. I say go for it. I did not have any interest in teaching, but I had so many requests that it seemed like a good idea. My kids took the classes as well. It was great for the summer, it paid my utility bills for the studio for many months in advance. We are having a Kid's Art Show in August with a reception and Awards- they will dress up and I will mount their work on matboard and hang it up. Having the classes has also resulted in some sales of prints to parents and some private lessons also.

As much as I enjoyed it, I am glad it's almost over! It can be exhausting, they all seem to raise their hands & want help at once. There is enough interest to keep the classes going year-round, but I have some landscape commissions to get to & hopefully the Christmas season will be busy.

[Mike McCarty]

Thanks Kim,

That all seems consistent with what I know about kids. It reminds me of a recent TV commercial where the little kid yells from the middle of the swimming pool: "hey mom, I don't have to potty any more!"

Would you say that there is a good minimum age where you could start the cut? The little gal above was 10 and seemed perfect, maybe 8 would be right. I actually get more requests from adults. Of course the kids don't know enough to ask.

[Kimberly Dow]

Mike,

I won't do the 5-8 yr olds again, too much like babysitting. I think the perfect age to start is 9. The parents won't make a kid that age take something they are not interested in, so you should have kids that truly want to learn. Plus at that age they are more independent and can get their own supplies, wash hands without help, clean up after themselves, etc. The older teenagers who draw all the time are really fun.

I have a waiting list for adults, maybe 10, but I don't think I will do it. I still have so much to learn that I wouldn't feel like I could do it right.

[Michele Rushworth]

Mike if I was to teach a drawing class for beginners (kids or adults) I'd follow the exercises in Betty Edwards' great book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".