Stephanie Sersich on The Art of Teaching Non-Artists

I love to teach folks who have never "done art" before.

Often they have been making things their whole lives (meals, friends, schedules, babies, messes) and were just unconscious of creating. Getting in touch with one's own artistic sensibilities is tough, purely because it is conscious. By the time we are adults, we've developed some sort of fear of expression because we've become more conscious. It's why kids have fun making anything from paper-plate masks to iced cookies. There is no self-consciousness, no fear. 

In reality, making a bracelet is not so different than making breakfast - you have a plan (that you stick to or not), you pick out the ingredients, you follow the recipe (in your head or in a cookbook) and then, VOILA, you have created something.

When I teach beading classes, every student (especially the "non-beader") is overjoyed with what they make - they had no idea what was in their heart and hands. When I teach, I make sure the self-consciousness and fear get left at the door of the studio. I provide the plan and ingredients and a bit of guidance...and then VOILA, the magic of making, a.k.a. "expression", happens throughout the room.

It's joyful. It's addictive and contagious.

That's why I just can't get enough of learning, teaching, process, beading, art and making. 

Come join me!
Stephanie