Blog 18
For the past couple of years, I have
offered classroom courses and workshops through the City of Ottawa as
well as in my home. As online workshops and courses are getting more
and more popular, I thought it would be interesting to compare the
two different ways of studying art.
Let’s start with the advantages of
online courses:
1) Flexibility
Registering for an online workshop
means that you can watch the video at any time from anywhere. You
avoid travel costs as you do not have to get out of your house. This
is a big advantage, especially in the cold and dark winter months, or
if you live in a rural area. You will never miss a class due to other
engagements. You can also replay the workshop as often as you like,
stop and play the video according to your needs, and even watch it in
slow motion. This way, you can adjust the speed of instruction to
your personal needs. You might also be able to take a course that you
cannot find in your area.
2) Convenience
You do not have to pack up all your
materials and carry them to the course and back home, risking to
forget something that you need. Especially, if you work with a
slow-drying or messy medium or on a big piece, you do not have to
worry about any transportation issues. You can also avoid
distractions from other participants who might monopolize the teacher
with their questions.
3) Lower Price
Online courses are often offered at
lower prices as the instructor does not need to provide a classroom
and to be present after the production of the video, except for
online support of the students.
Now, let’s look at the advantages of
the classroom experience:
1) Personal Connection
For most people, art classes are not
alone about learning new skills, they also enjoy the social aspect of
being among like-minded people. Many good friendships have formed
among people who have participated together in classes. The teacher
is available to help and support you directly, giving you suggestions
according to your specific needs. If you are in a class setting, you
can also learn from the struggles of your fellow participants. When
you are frustrated with the progress of an artwork, the feedback from
fellow participants might help you to see your piece with a fresh
eye, and show you possibilities to continue your work.
2) The Chemistry between Teacher and Student
As every person is unique, you will
also find that you will connect with some teachers immediately while
you do not feel comfortable with other instructors, or their way of
teaching. If you know and trust a teacher, you will be more open to
asking for help and accepting constructive suggestions to improve
your work.
3) Limitations of Video Technology
Some painting scenarios cannot be
captured with a video camera, e.g. creating the experience of a plein
air painting session or painting a still life arrangement as the
regular camera is limited to displaying a two-dimensional image. You
cannot touch the surface of an object. The colours of the originals
objects might not be the same as the ones you see on your computer
screen. Just move the screen of your laptop a little backward and
forward, and the colours will already change depending on the light
that falls onto the screen.
4) Customization of the class
Especially, if you take private or
small-group classes, the teacher can customize the classes to your
personal needs and wishes with regard to materials, techniques, and
subjects.
As I find the person to person contact
very important when I am teaching or taking courses, I will continue
to offer in-person workshops. To make it as easy for the students as
possible to come to my classes, I provide the materials and set
everything up for the workshops. To serve you and your needs better,
I encourage you to let me know how I can help you to improve your
skills and to have lots of fun and relax at the same time.
If you are interested in my workshops,
I encourage you to visit my website www.KerstinPeters.ca
regularly. I have lots of new workshops and painting parties planned
for the summer months.
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