For many of us teaching is something we do alongside our own personal journeys as artists. It forms a consistent, and hopefully lucrative part of our creative businesses. This sometimes means we are restricted in other areas as it's often important to prioritise that which is bringing in the most money. It can be useful to allow yourself a moment to reflect on your teaching and your courses to make sure you prevent against creative burnout whilst still giving your students 100%. Below are some questions you can consider asking yourself.
Why do I teach?
And I don't mean for the fee. Why did you start? What made you think you'd be good at it? What do you enjoy about it? Take a moment to recognise the privilege of teaching and reflect on how you got to be where you are. It can be helpful to write these answers down and look back on them when you’re feeling fatigued or low. Be really honest with yourself and don’t be afraid to big yourself up! Be proud of what you know you’re good at and celebrate the personal growth that inevitably happens when you teach others.
Am I struggling?
If you’re feeling burnout it’s important to diagnose the issue. Are you running too many courses? Are factors in your personal life leaving you less time to spend on your business? We all end up with too much on our plate sometimes and taking a break isn’t always an option. As somebody who works 3/4 days a week in addition to running my own glass business and raising a little one I know only too well how it can all become too much. To combat this I keep a detailed ‘to do’ list and the hours I have to spend on my own business are meticulously mapped out for maximum productivity. I’m strategic about what goes in my kilns and when. But I also make sure that about a third of the time I have for my glass is strictly time where I let myself free to explore new ideas without the shackles of creating an ‘end product’. I forget sales. I forget price points. I just play. This is the most fun time I spend on my glass and where the best ideas organically reveal themselves.
Am l practicing self-care?
My prime teaching days are weekends, so I make sure I schedule at least one, if not two, completely free weekends each month in order to recharge/focus on other stuff. If you are struggling, look at your calendar and circle all of your upcoming free days and make sure you keep them that way. Look forward to them as days to enjoy doing something completely unrelated to glass, or as days to go into your studio obligation free and play (whichever feels most appealing). This is really important, even during the busy seasons.
Does teaching inspire me in my own glass work?
The teaching studio can be a magical place where ideas and excitement bounce of the walls. Fundamentally, this excitement needs to be pouring out of you as well as your students. If you've taught certain projects so many times that you feel completely numb and uninspired by them it could be time to change them up. If they feel stale to you, you will become exhausted by forcing your enthusiasm and this is detrimental to your own psyche as an artist.
Should I be extending my own learning?
We are blessed to work in a medium that presents endless possibilities and are spoilt for choice of wonderful technique-based courses taught by world-renowned artists. There are two reasons why I think glass tutors should always be going on courses. 1) Learning new ways to use glass as your method of self-expression is food for the soul. Not only will it invigorate your own enthusiasm, but it will remind you why glass courses are so wonderful and what a privilege it is to be able to offer that to others. 2) It's fascinating to watch other tutors work and you will inevitably make some useful observations that you will choose to incorporate into your own practice.
Do I pay much attention to my feedback?
Dig out those feedback forms and take the time to feel good about yourself. Revel in it! You have made a positive difference in people's lives. You've allowed them to escape. You've taken them on a journey. Take a moment to celebrate yourself.
Asking yourselves these questions will hopefully provide a starting point for reflection on your art and teaching practice. You could consider writing down your answers and revisit them a few months down the line to see what has changed. Let me know if asking these questions helps you realise something or triggers you to make positive changes. I’d love to know!
Catherine Dunstan is a glass artist and teacher working predominantly with fused glass. She also has seven years’ experience producing glass courses with local and international artists, booking them to teach in the UK.
The Resources for Teachers blog speaks mainly to those teaching glass, but its content is also applicable to creative courses in other mediums.
© Catherine Dunstan Glass 2019. All rights reserved.