Preparing to Host Your First Art Masterclass

Teach current techniques

Listen to this unwanted master class experience from a watercolorist. :

“Although I didn't know it at the time, I chose a teacher who cared more about encouraging students' creativity than about teaching us how to draw. In this session, I learned not to waste time on cheap consumables and to generally paint from light to dark, but I still didn't know about the actual technique."

In short: you don't want your students to feel like this. You want workshop participants to go home feeling the new opportunities they have gained and to apply them with confidence in their work. Interesting way to do it? Angela encourages students to make cheat sheets to help them remember the different tricks they have learned.

Complete the full part

Don't stop at technology. Invite students to complete all the work so that they feel more successful. By having the work done with them when they go home, they will also have a great opportunity to discuss your workshop with friends and share your experience with other potential students.

Plan and practice

Now that you have the bulk of your training material, focus on the big two Ps—planning and practice—because bloat probably won't help.

As far as planning is concerned, map out the most important lessons to teach and collect the necessary materials. When you're ready to practice, get a friend to demonstrate together, time yourself, and write down whatever you need to. While this may require some upfront work, your preparation will pay off in the long run.

Cover your expenses

Knowing how much to charge for seminars can be a real challenge. To help, take a look at Art Biz Coach Alison Stanfield's post on , and try to find a similar seminar cost in your area.

Just be sure to include the cost of supplies for each student in the fee, or you'll be charged the cost. And, if you want to give more people the chance to attend your seminar, consider offering a payment plan for those who can't afford to pay all the seminar costs right away.

What's next?

Promote like a pro

Once your workshop is planned and ready to go, promotion is key! That means reaching out to fans on social media, a blog, newsletters, online groups, art fairs, and any other place you can think of to spread the word.

Get rid of any concerns students may have before enrolling by clearly stating the level of experience required for classes. Some artists have been successful in student numbers by creating a wide network of workshops open to all skill levels, while others teach more advanced techniques that attract professionals from all over the country.

Keep class size small

Know your limits. This includes knowing how many people you can instruct at the same time. You want to be able to answer questions one-on-one and make recommendations when students aren't asking for your attention.

This may mean that you start with two or three students and see what you can do. If small classes are more convenient for your teaching style, you can run several workshops each month to accommodate more students.

Leave time to recharge

Another tip? Decide how long you want your workshop to last. Depending on the lesson, workshops can last from a few hours to half a day or more.

If the class lasts several hours, remember to take breaks for rest, water, and snacks as needed. One great idea is to let the students walk around the room and have a conversation about everyone's progress.

Do not forget to have fun

Finally, let your workshop be carefree and relaxed. While you want students to leave with new knowledge and skills, it should be fun! Having just the right amount of excitement will make students want to come back one more time instead of treating it like a chore.

Go and learn!

Of course, you want your first creative workshop to be a success. To make the process less intimidating, remember what you would like to get out of the seminar if you were a student. Strive to create an engaging environment where students can learn real techniques with one-on-one guidance. Follow this advice and help turn artist studios into a thriving business for your art business.

Workshops are a great way to network with fellow artists and grow your art business. Find out more ways .