Art can be a grand adventure

Did you know that years ago, I used to teach surf camp? Right here on the Oregon coast! It was such a fun experience! I created a fun, welcoming, safe group environment for the students. Then I taught them all about the currents, tides, safety, and their equipment.

Next I got them really stoked and confident—because I knew they could do this, and I would be in the water with them to help out—and they found they had the willingness to jump into the cold water and have the time of their lives. Naturally they sometimes got frustrated as they struggled to stay on the board the first few times. I was right there to support them, help them troubleshoot, and to keep their spirits up so they could keep working at it.

You’ll note that I didn’t paddle for them. If I did, how would they have ever learned?

The art mentoring I provide through my online incubator program Visual Artist Accelerator is similar: I won’t tell you how to apply paint or what color to use, but I will set you up to face the waves and have your own experience with me in the water with you. You’ll get a thorough understanding of your equipment (the basic elements of design, color theory, and composition) and you’ll be able to express your why (what do you want to share with the world with your art?).

Most of all, you’ll paddle and surf with abandon! You’ll create a fresh, cohesive body of work that reflects you. You’ll find freedom and joy in art as you design a creative practice that works for you for a lifetime.

As your mentor, I’ll provide feedback in a common language that we both understand—helpful, thoughtful, respectful feedback that helps you improve.

By the end of our surf camp, the students had a glowy, happy familiarity with each other. That’s how it is with the participants in Visual Artist Accelerator. It’s a lot more fun to learn to surf in a crowd. The same is true for getting creative mentoring! Art can be a lonely business, but with a cadre of art friends, it can be a grand adventure.

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Come on in—We’ll have a blast!