Why Try a Mentorship?

I’ve been a professional artist for over thirty years now. And I have been teaching for almost as long, both at the collegiate level and by offering workshops in the United States and abroad. I've also mentored individual students over longer periods of time and much of what I've learned about teaching comes down to this: the fewer the students, the longer the term, the better the experience and outcome.

I still offer workshops on a regular basis but believe they are defined by an inherent constraint. Workshops only span a few days, and as a result they tend to foster short, intense experiences. They are good for becoming inspired or challenged, but not great for mastering difficult techniques and concepts. From the perspective of the student – you sign up, you work hard, and when the class is over you go home.

But then what?

Thus, an idea was born. I decided to offer something longer term and more personalized: an online mentorship.

For the student who wants to grow in a meaningful way, it is better to play the longer game. Sure, take workshops for variety and spice. But also establish a relationship with a teacher you admire and trust. Strengthen that relationship by checking in with him or her on a regular basis. Show them your work at different stages of completion. Be able to ask them questions and review the things you learned months, if not years ago. These are the benefits of a mentorship.

A good mentorship can offer...

Instruction

Feedback

Guidance

Accountibility

Time for ideas and skills to mature

Personalized attention

Measureable progress

Redirection, if necessary

Assistance with professional advancement, if desired