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To Teach or Not to Teach [268]
Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers
Deep Dive
What are the main benefits and downsides of teaching for artists?
Teaching can inspire and bring variety to an artist's life, but it may also detract from personal creativity by consuming time and energy. While teaching helps clarify one's own artistic process and can be rewarding, it often comes with administrative burdens and interpersonal challenges that can be draining.
Why does Louise feel that teaching feeds her creativity?
Louise finds that teaching, especially when demonstrating ideas or talking about her process, sparks her creativity. She often starts paintings during teaching sessions, which then lead to new series of work. The act of explaining her methods out loud helps her generate ideas and stay engaged with her art.
What challenges do artists face when balancing teaching and their personal work?
Artists often struggle with the time and energy required for teaching, which can detract from their personal creative practice. Additionally, the administrative tasks, marketing, and interpersonal issues associated with teaching can be overwhelming and take away from the focus on their own artwork.
How does Alice view the relationship between teaching and her personal art practice?
Alice believes that teaching and personal art practice are interconnected but serve different purposes. While teaching provides her with inspiration and a sense of purpose, her personal art practice is more introspective and self-centered. She values the balance between the two, as teaching helps her stay connected with others while her personal work allows for deeper creative exploration.
What impact does teaching have on an artist's legacy, as discussed in the podcast?
Teaching can become a significant part of an artist's legacy, as it allows them to influence and inspire the next generation of artists. Tracy Emin, for example, views her art school and teaching as a more important part of her legacy than her own artwork, highlighting the broader impact that teaching can have beyond personal creative achievements.
How do Louise and Alice handle the administrative and interpersonal challenges of teaching?
Both Louise and Alice acknowledge the administrative and interpersonal challenges of teaching, such as answering repetitive questions or managing conflicts in workshops. Louise has set up a support team to handle routine inquiries, while Alice focuses on creating a supportive and engaging environment for her students. Both emphasize the importance of finding ways to make teaching sustainable and enjoyable.
What role does passion play in teaching, according to the podcast?
Passion is crucial for teaching to be fulfilling and effective. If an artist is not passionate about what they are teaching, it can feel like a chore and lead to burnout. Both Louise and Alice stress that teaching should align with one's interests and values, as this not only makes the experience more rewarding but also attracts more engaged students.
How does teaching influence an artist's marketing approach?
Teaching encourages artists to think more about the value and purpose of their work, which can make them more confident in marketing their art. By focusing on how their teaching benefits others, artists can adopt a more assertive and effective marketing strategy, even if they feel less comfortable promoting their personal artwork.
Shownotes Transcript