Teaching Art, teacher-student connections!

Teaching art is the love of giving and of sharing. Seeing students progressing from A to Z is certainly, a pleasant experience. In particular, teaching those who have thirst for it and have appreciation for the importance of arts that is for life. As an Art instructor, I mentor my students as far as I can go with each individual and according to his/her limitations. Although, limitation is mentioned, yet I believe that there is no limitation within, as long as we are willing to expand it or to respond with someone who could instruct us of how to go about. Motivating and teaching students to be self motivated is essential. I use variety of methods during the art lessons in order to cover every corner of seeing the complete painting and of considering each student's make up. By explaining, verbally or demonstratively, encouraging and by instructing constructively, I can reach each student’s unlimited ability. Teaching art requires art of teaching, art of listening to and understanding our students. Usually, it ends up with a profound and open communication/relationship between a student and his/her instructor, without it, the teaching effectiveness can't be conveyed!

A baby can learn to swim and float over the surface of the water probably by only one supportive finger, without it, he/she can’t make it. But by learning when and how to press harder or press less with that supportive finger, in order to free a baby from the fear of waters and become a professional swimmer, is a vital required ability. Establishing the flow of connections and the good communications between a teacher and a student is the essential part in order to not only teach the important elements of a “wow painting”, to teach a technique, to teach how, when and where to apply this and that, to teach him/her how to independent but also, and more importantly, is how to transfer feelings, how to help them expand their imaginations for each elements required to come up with an out standing art work. A student has to have a taste of the process/straggle to creating a wow painting and to experience the steps of developing the passion and the patience. Yet, he/she will still be protected by his/her teacher’s finger/instructions. Freeing a student form his/her teacher’s technique is another story.

Note: Some individuals have suggested that teaching art should be free of charge with which I agree. And I would add to that” If we can’t afford it, at least we can be generous of our times, be sincere in all the given tips, of creating a good piece of art, not only to our students but also to those who seek for them and teach for the love of giving/helping and not for the love of money. Life was given to us for free, but to maintain it, unfortunately, we have to pay almost, for everything even for the water we drink and for the oxygen we breathe. It would have been wonderful if all of us could work, learn, teach, heal, discover, invent, enjoy the works of our hands and still be able to satisfy our needs with no money involved!” I am not the only dreamer!


Mona Youssef - Realist fine artist

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