My friend Rachel asked me to write an article about how online classes work for her blog, Fiber Focus . Also, she has started a Ning group called Fiber Focus if you would like to check it out and join. But I thought since I get so many questions about my classes, I thought I would publish it here too.

Online Classes??

That is what people say to me when they ask me what I do for a living. First I have to explain to them what a Fiber Artist is and then how I teach classes over the Internet. “This is the wave of the future and pretty soon you will be able to do all types of classes on the web”, I tell them. People that have grown up with a computer see this a future trend, but people around my age….44….are still leery about the computer and a hacker stealing their ID.  My great aunt, who is 91, just can’t get over the fact that I am making a living as an artist, plus this computer monster that has taken over the world. But now, computers are getting so simple to use that several years ago I was approached to design a Fiber Collage class for an online website. Now, I have a Masters in Art Education and had taught for 12 years in the public school system, so I saw this as an excellent opportunity not to waste this expensive diploma hanging on my wall.

Online art classes come in 2 categories, Projects and Creative Learning, in my opinion. Some classes that you can take will show you how to make a project, so you end up with the teacher’s example. (To me that is like coloring in a coloring book or following a dress pattern) The 2^nd category is what I like to call Creative Learning. This is how I was trained to become an art teacher…to help the students think out of the box and try new techniques.  I write my lessons like I would like a lesson plan in a classroom and shoot a lot of photos to go along with the lessons. Keeping it simple and using a lot of visuals is the way I like to do my workshops. I guess I write the lesson as if I was going to take it. I have taken many online classes and the teachers are really creative, but their lessons are wordy and don’t make sense. So, you will encounter a lot of different teaching styles out there, like you would in a classroom.

The Pros in taking an online class is you can do it on your time schedule. You don’t have to waste gas and drive anywhere. You don’t have to drag around all of your art supplies, they are right there in your studio. You can download the lessons and you have a mini book to keep of the class. You meet other students from all over the world and see how they interpret the lesson. You can experiment without feeling like you have to make your project perfect, so there is no pressure. The cost of the workshops cannot be beat!! I charge around 60.00 for a 6 weeks workshop and if I had to teach it in person I would have to charge around 350.00 a student.

Yes there are some Cons to taking an online class. No immediate feedback from your teacher and other students. No one on one, in person learning while you are working on your project. That is the biggest Con and there probably are several more, but I can’t think of any.

How I teach my online class is everyone in the class are given a password to an online forum and you can download the lesson from the forum. The forum is there for students to share, ask questions, and make comments about each lesson. I download the photos that are in the lesson, that way you can get a clear picture of what I am demonstrating. Plus, in the future I am working on having videos accompany my classes. The forum isn’t in real time, since there are students from all over world in different time zones. But if there is a new way for me to communicate with my students, I will find it. I am really big on the learning experience and want to make it a positive experience with all of the students. When the class ends, I have a Yahoo group and Flickr.com groups set up for everyone to keep sharing their work. Just because the 6 weeks might be over, doesn’t mean I am not there to help.

If you are considering on taking an online class, choose something that really interest you and you will be more apt to do the lessons. You need some motivation, but it is a really inexpensive way to try out new crafts and meet wonderful people.

Hope to see you online!!

Susan

www.creativechick.com

Creative Chick Studios Classes for Fall 2008

I will be holding 3 classes this Fall and possibly a new one on my website. I have been  renovating my condo all summer and it has put a dent in my creative energy. My carpel tunnel has flared up due to me using a paint brush on the trim and walls. I really wanted to have some new classes for the Fall, so I might pull it off...or not. I told Barb at Joggles.com I was going to try and have a new class for her too, but will have to push it until the Winter session.

Creative Embroidery-Organic Design

September 2- October 6

6 lessons/6 weeks

$60.00

Fear No Color

October 14- November 4

4 Lessons/ 4 Weeks

$40.00

Fiber Collage Workshop

Ann's Pig

November 11- December 16

6 Lessons/ 6 Weeks

$60.00

July Newsletter

Hello my creative friends!! I hope this month you have been on a creative wave or relaxing in the boat!! I have been hanging out on the "beach" and not so much on in the studio. (I wish I was at a real beach...I am missing the ocean and sand!!!)

John and I have been renovating our condo and all of my "paint" time has been used on my walls. It is funny when you are redoing your living space...one thing leads to another. New carpet, new paint, new towels, new wastebaskets, recovering furniture and the list keeps growing!! Good thing I live in a small space or I would never get any art done this year.

Also, I have been giving my creative soul a rest and recharge vacation. I have realized that you can't be "on" all of the time or you burn out. So, take a moment each week to go to a movie, hang out at a bookstore,read a book,visit an antique store or go for a walk to recharge.

**********************************************************************************

I thought I would give you a peek for what I will be offering this Fall. I am not set up for payments yet, but will be in the next couple of weeks.

I hope to have a new class for the Fall Session for Joggles, depending on if my Carpel Tunnel doesn't flair up!! I wanted to have a new one for the summer, but due to renovations of the condo it just didn't work out. The working title is Imaginative Embroidery and will be using drawing exercises and fabric painting to make cool fiber art pieces.

I will be teaching the Fiber Collage workshop at my studio in Taylors SC. in August is anyone is interested in attending. You will find all the info on www.littlehouseartstudios.com. The cost is 120.00 and it is 2 Saturdays-2 day class from 10-4. August 16th and 23rd.  You can sign up on line or send me a check in the mail. I am thinking of doing a class August 11th and 18th, that is 2 Mondays from 10-4....if I can get a group of at least 4 students.

Art to Profit gives artists the tools to promote their business and support them along the way as they take their work from the studio to the world. Services include:

• Artist career development
• Marketing and PR strategy and design services including postcard design, posters, website design, business cards, artist statement and other marketing pieces
• Over-the-phone consulting
• Apprenticeship and mentorship matching services
• Community Connections and networking
• Grant assistance for artists and arts organizations

For more information contact Nichole Livengood at (864) 320-3002 or send her an email to niclive@hughes.net.  

Nichole Livengood

Art to Profit.

info@arttoprofit.com

www.arttoprofit.com

864.320.3002

 

---

 

 

---

 

**********************************************************************************

Creative Chick Newsletter-June 2008

Hello Creative Friends!!! I hope you are staying cool if you are in the US, since the temperatures have been close to 100 degrees here in South Carolina. Of course the heat has made me lazy and I haven't been doing any art, but I have caught up on my reading. So, this newsletter is going to be short. I just want to remind everyone of the upcoming classes I have going on at Creative Chick Studios and Joggles.com. Plus, I have an announcement about a new teaching gig.

*******************************************************************************

Creative Chick Studios Online Classes

Fertile Earth/June 30th-August 4th

Cost $60.00/6 weeks

Anne Lohr-Fertile Earth

Monoprinting on Fabric/July 17th-August 21st

Cost $60.00/6 weeks

CJ's String Leaf Print-Monoprinting

*******************************************************************************

At Joggles.com this session I will be teaching 3 online classes.

Fear No Color (a short color study workshop)

"Split your Imagination" 2007

This is a 4 week/4 Lesson that is a intro on color theory.

$40.00

Creative Embroidery-Organic Designs (embroidery/mixed media)

Terri Stegmiller-pods

6 Week/6 Lessons

$60.00

Fiber Collage (intro to art quilting)

Caroline Commin-Old Woman