Wonderful discussion about what it takes to reach the level of income that I aspire for doing what I love. Loved the fact that Elizabeth stated that we all have our own path. Yet I can see her experience in a similar way as my own. Good advise all around, thank you.

What a wonderful podcast. Very inspiring and informative. I just love Elizabeth…. I took her workshop in Italy last year…. Hi Elizabeth…. it’s Yolanda!! And it was life changing… I learned so much from different aspects of the creative process that opened me and my art to avenues and processes that I was unaware of. Me and my art have just gone to another level from the experience. Thank you ladies for helping us continue creating!!!
Thanks for all you do!!
Yolanda

Ooo, I can’t wait to listen to this!

Teaching makes up the lion’s share of my art income, with freelance graphic design projects helping out. I’ve been teaching classes and workshops at our local art center since 2013. I love teaching, but living in a smaller city in a remote area has its share of pros and cons. One of the wonderful things about living here is that I CAN teach. I don’t have a fine art degree, so if I lived in a bigger city, the competition would push me out. However, it can be difficult to get enough interest to run a class or workshop here.

I wanted to share this experience in case anyone else has had a problem with low enrollment:
I usually get just enough people to be able to run a class, but this Fall has been tough. I had two classes and a workshop cancel due to low enrollment. That was a pretty big hit for me, but then our one little independent art supply store in town said I could teach in a space with tables and chairs in their shop for a very small cut (and I could display my paintings there for as long as I wanted, which has turned out to be a great way to advertise my teaching. I’ve gotten two more students that way.), so I jumped at the opportunity and offered a private instruction option to the few students who did sign up for my classes this Fall. Two of the three people took me up on it. I had never considered private instruction before (I didn’t think people would be willing to pay the higher fees), but I’m really enjoying it now. As an added bonus, the instruction is on-going, rather than having to limit it to run a certain number of weeks, the way a formal class would be. So if your classes aren’t filling enough, do consider private instruction. Even if you can’t teach out of your home, there are creative ways to make it happen!

Thanks for doing this podcast with Elizabeth. I have been following her career since 2012 and she inspires me every day. Watching her progress has made me think well maybe I can be a full time artist, too!

Hi Alyson and Elizabeth,

Thanks for the great podcast, very interesting discussion. It’s great to hear how long Elizabeth has been a working artist, I have to remind myself, often, that good things take time.

I listened to half the podcast yesterday, and the other half this morning. Last night I had a dream that I was teaching, but not teaching art, I was teaching maths! Very funny.

Thanks for sharing the different teaching models, food for thought.

Lynn

Hi Alyson, I was asking because I don’t know where the delete or edit options are on a blog- I must have posted in places you can do this. I gather from you asking me back that there aren’t any! Will keep in mind if I go posting on blogs in future. Now I am curious and will go look at the only other blog I post on…