What Makes a Good Art Teacher?

Although I tried several times as a child and as a young adult to “learn to draw”, I was never successful. It wasn’t until I was well into my sixties that I finally developed a few basic drawing skills and miraculously became “an artist”. I think perhaps the most significant change between those earlier failures and my later success was simply this: the internet.

When I decided I should learn to draw, my first act was to log on to my computer and visit Amazon in search of a good book. It was discouraging, at first. There were dozens of of “how to draw” books available, but as I sampled each one, I shook my head. Like so many of the books I’d looked at in my younger days, these “beginner books” seemed intended for someone who already knew how to draw. The illustrations were complicated. There was information about lighting, shadows, perspectives, and all of those important things, but little actual instruction on where and how to begin!

Fortunately, I found Kate Berry’s book “Drawing Lessons for Beginner Artists” which started off with “HOW TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE.” Yep, that was the book for me.

Later, I purchased “You Can Draw in 30 Days” by Mark Kistler. It’s a fun book, but I didn’t learn a lot from it — or at least I didn’t feel that I was making much progress. While he provided good instructions, there were highly specific: “Here’s how to draw this little figure” — not “here’s how to develop drawing skills.”

While following Kistler’s exercises, I found myself a bit stuck one day. So, what did I do? Naturally, I headed for the computer and began searching for information. I found exactly what I was looking for at “The Virtual Instructor“. I watched a free video, immediately “clicked” with the teaching methods of Matt Fussell, and soon I joined the site as a member and began going through various art courses. It is those same courses I’ve been reviewing recently.

The internet is, of course, an excellent place for art instruction. Along with many artists offering paid courses, and sites such as Craftsy and Skillshare, there are hundreds — thousands — of free YouTube videos providing information on every possible art technique with every possible medium.

But, if you check them out, you’ll quickly find that the quality of instruction varies greatly from one “teacher” to the next. I’ve always considered myself fortunate to have found Matt Fussell so early in my studies. Learning through his courses and participating in his live classes gave me the encouragement I needed. I guess, in a way, I felt that he believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Since then, I’ve “studied” with many online teachers. I’ve watched a lot of good videos, and I’ve watched a few that have left me shaking my head. I’ve taken several classes, some of which have inspired me, others which have left me feeling discouraged about art.

So, the question here is this: What makes a good art teacher? Of course, that answer will be different for each student, so the ultimate answer is that a good art teacher — or teacher of any subject — is one who teaches in a way that works for us. We’re each individuals; we have different learning styles.

Just for fun, let’s take a look at some of the teaching styles you’ll find — both online and in person. Hopefully you’ll gain a good understanding of what sort of teacher will be most helpful for you.

JUST WATCH ME!

Art is visual, so of course we need to see how certain techniques are performed, but some teachers — especially on YouTube — take this to ridiculous extremes. I’ve played more than a few videos where the camera shows an instructor drawing or painting, yet there’s no talk about the actions, nor any text. These videos may be accompanied by gentle, soothing music, but for me, that’s not enough. Watching someone can be helpful, yes, but I need more explicit instruction.

ANY QUESTIONS?

For me, the ability to ask questions of an instructor is a key element, so I enjoy “live classes” or in-person classes where I can raise my hand — physically or virutally — and have an instructor actually address my questions. Some instructors on video tutorials that aren’t live will still have a comment section and will respond to questions. For me, this is a big plus!

SIGN UP TO LEARN MORE!

A lot of “free” lessons are really commercials, but I don’t have a big problem with this. If the free material is on a subject I’m working on, I’ll gladly sign up, and if the material presented is truly helpful, I might even sign on for a paid version. If not, I’ll exit before the “sales promo” at the end.

I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING

This sort of teaching approach can be good. After all, we want to have confidence in our instructors. The problem for me, though, is that while the instructor definitely knows what he or she is doing, I don’t have a clue, as often as not. So unless the instructor explains what’s going on, I’m likely to be lost! Why are you putting down that big blob of green there? Why are making all those bold strokes across the canvas? How do you know where to add those weird marks you’re making? I try to follow along, but without understanding the reason behind what I’m seeing, I usually end up making a mess of my painting. A note to any teachers reading this: Yes, you know what you’re doing, so please explain it!

GIVE IT A TRY — YOU CAN DO THIS

For me, this approach is the sign of a really good teacher. Going along with this “can do” attitude is usually a careful, step-by-step process with the instructor showing us what to do, how to do it, and encouraging us to give it a try. These teachers are also ones who show us how to correct mistakes. They break down art projects to their simplest elements and help us through each part.

TIME LAPSE TEACHING

For me, this gets a bit frustrating, although I understand the necessity of time-lapse. Sometimes, it’s fine. If I’m watching a watercolor tutorial, of course I expect there to be a “time lapse” while the first wash dries before the next step in the process. But at other times, the time lapses just “rush through” what’s happening. An instructor starts adding a background, as an example, and then – voila! It’s complete. I didn’t really get to see exactly how it all happened. Or an instructor starts shading a form, and then – voila! The drawing is all but finished, and I end up feeling cheated. No, I don’t necessarily want to watch every minute of your drawing process, but please show enough of the technique to help me understand what I need to do.

TOO MUCH, TOO SOON

I’ve encountered this approach far too many times — it happens a lot in art books, and it also happens online. Lesson One is very basic. Simple things. Yes, I can draw these lines and curves. Then suddenly in Lesson Two I’m expected to draw a highly-detailed rose with dew on the petals, or an up-close look at a motorcycle! Sorry, but I can’t go from simple lines to complex subjects overnight!

WELL, YOU TRIED

This method might sound nice. After all, it’s nice to have our efforts recognized, but sadly, this was the attitude of the art teachers I had in school. I wasn’t good at art, so I got no more than a patient smile and a “Well, you tried,” comment. Of course, I tried! I tried my best. It would have been helpful if one of those well-meaning teachers had offered a bit of help or had shown me a better method for whatever we were working on.

NO COMMENT

Even worse than a bit of commiseration is the teacher who doesn’t even acknowledge our work. This was the situation I faced at my first — and only — acrylic pouring workshop. It left me devastated: Defining Moments. You can read the story and see the effect it had on me. Again, teachers who may be reading this, take note. Silence can be deafening. Never ignore a student’s work, no matter how it looks. Offer suggestions, offer encouragement. Please, don’t shrug and walk on by.

MISS CRABAPPLE

My list of teachers and teaching methods would not be complete with mention of Miss Crabapple. Fortunately, she exists only in my mind. But then again, maybe she’s in your mind, too, or maybe you’ve actually met her. Miss Crabapple is critical. Nothing pleases her. She’s not silent, either. She’ll go on and on at great length to point out all our mistakes, to tell us how bad our work is, how hopeless we are! I finally managed to banish Miss Crabapple from my studio, so if you find yourself dealing with a harsh inner critic like Miss Crabapple, take heart! You can get rid of her! Here’s how I finally bid farewell: Goodbye, Miss Crabapple

Overall, we each have personal preferences and individual needs when it comes to art instruction. I need encouragement; I need the ability to ask questions and get answers; I need step-by-step teaching with explanations along the way.

You may need an entirely different approach, and thank goodness for the internet! There is such a variety of teachers and online courses and other art-related resources that we can find just what we need if we’re willing to look around a bit.

And, once you find a teacher who offers what you need, stick with him or her. Subscribe to the YouTube Channel, sign up for membership, take advantage of any programs offered. And take a moment, too, to email that teacher, to say “thank you”, to offer a testimonial. Show your appreciation for those teachers who have helped you along the way.