Hi!
I joined Drawspace a while back but have never written a post (topic). I thought I finally would join in.

Are there other Art Teachers out there who belong? If so, do you manage to fit your own art into your work schedule?

I find it difficult to keep in touch with what is going on around the art world aside from those areas in Public Education that I am a part of daily. I decided it might be beneficial to join several of the art blogs available such as this one, as well as Wet Canvas and Artists Network. I also try very hard to continue doing my own art outside of school but that is difficult as well. I don't know about other teachers, but I am always so tired when I get out of school, and there is always supper to get, clean up, errands to run, etc. I have found I generally don't get much of my own art completed until summer comes around. I do several pieces in pottery, sculpture, and Computer Graphics over the school year for demos but that isn't the same.

I look forward to seeing everyone's work, and reading other posts, etc.

We have many teachers who belong to this forum and i know at times it is very trying to do their art and their jobs ...some of them art is there jobs ...so they will best be able to help you .

I would like to welcome you to our forum

Hi Bk! It is no different for anyone with a full time job.. you as a public school teacher are in fact far better off than most with 3 months off in the summer!!

Oh, my, I certainly meant no offense. I wasn't suggesting there are not others out there who work full time yet seem to find the time to create art. I admire you all!

I can assure you I treasure my summer off (although it is closer to 2 1/2 months than 3, sometimes even less when there is much needed work that has to be done in the summer, which is quite often) and I can tell you honestly that most teachers would burn out in a very short time if not for that time off.

I guess I was actually making the request about Art Teachers because that's what I do and I thought it would be nice to communicate with others who teach art, to share ideas and such, and see how they work in the time for their own creativity.





Thank you, Kim. I appreciate your "welcome". I do look forward to hearing from other art teachers to share ideas; maybe lesson plans, etc., but I certainly welcome communication from any other artists.

BK, I teach drawing for an organization and in workshops and here and have recently cut back on the lessons as I had no time to create my own work. I work full time as well so the lessons come after work and on weekends while I tried to squeeze in my own art when I could.

I was finding the very full schedule stressful and I spent more time creating lesson plans and delivering classes than doing my own work. At the end of this month, I have stopped my triweekly drawing lessons and can breathe a sigh of relief as it frees up a lot more time for me to do my own art.

To teach art full time sounds like the dream, but in reality its very hard work. You spend hours prepping for classes, explaining techniques and drawing demos that may not always be what you like to draw. There is a fine line between doing what you want and what you need to do to exist in this world.

No offense taken..just wanted you to know that we all have the same problem!
only 24 hours when we need 42 per day!

You are absolutely right! I'm sure there may be other artists out there who believe that teaching art is a great way to be an artist and make money at the same time. But, it is a great deal of work, not only actual work as in prep and classroom demos/lectures, but just dealing with kids day to day is all somewhat stressful no matter how much you like your subject and your students. I teach high school and I admit there are times I can really feel the burnout. And, as you said, you don't get to do the kind of art you really want to do - you can't sit in your classroom and do your own thing - it's all about educating the students. I don't regret going into education, though, although I most definitely would have been a freelance artist if I could have made enough money to live on. I had two children when I returned to school so I had to work toward a profession that had a regular paycheck and benefits. I've now been teaching for 13 years and I still have many more to go before I can even think of retiring.

Hi,

I personnally have a lot of respect for teachers. Kids are not easy to handle. I think high school must be the hardest...hormones...

And good teachers are an inspiration to many.

And by the way, I am not in the profession, this salute is from my heart.