h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm a practicing/exhibiting artist and a few years ago I added teaching art to my 'interesting things to do in my lifetime list'.

Last week I came upon a situation that I feel/hope you may be able to assist me with.

A student (adult, female) was having difficulty progressing with her painting, all my suggestions were answered with excuses why she couldn't do them. I laid out a simple step by step plan for her to approach the block that she appeared to be having and still she stalled. In desperation I insisted that she tell me why she wouldn't at least try my idea, "because I haven't given myself permission to do that" she said.

Now, I am all in favour of getting in touch with the inner self and taking responsibility for your own life etc., but I was stumped with this one. My instinctive reaction was to roar with laughter, this was quickly followed by a visual image of me hauling her over the workbench by the scruff of the neck while steam escaped through my ears, (this image was rather theatrical and a tad overdramatic I admit, perhaps my Celtic origins came into play here) so instead I said "O.K. when you're ready" and walked away.

I felt strangely stunned by the exchange and wondered if I could have handled it better. Any suggestions?

I think she needs relaxing more than programming. People who "give permissions" to themselves are usually very stressed.

Give her tasks that are in no way related to whatever she wants to achieve. Make her sing or write a story or evaluate the latest episode of Star Trek... that sort of thing. Occupy her mind with mindless tasks. Then, while she is busy doing something else, let her do the painting.
If this sounds like nonsense, give it a try anyway. If it doesn't help, do that little show you imagined about torturing her...

How do you have the patience to cope with people like that? I would suggest she does 6 months voluntary work in a 3rd world country - then she might have a slightly less self-centred view of life, and be grateful.

How do you have the patience to cope with people like that? I would suggest she does 6 months voluntary work in a 3rd world country - then she might have a slightly less self-centred view of life, and be grateful.

Ooops - sorry about the double posting!!

Hi Maggie,

I think you handled the situation good as anyone else could have. If she “hasn’t given myself (herself) permission to do that”, who or what is she waiting for. You handled it better than I would. I (also with Celtic blood) would probably said something more snotty like “when you ready to become the artist that you can be and stop being a mediocre painter, let me know!”

Another thought is that she is afraid that she is not as good of an Artist she thinks she is and by not taking the next step (doing what you asked her to do) she won’t find out that she’s not the Artist that she thinks she is and be disappointed.

If these ideas don’t help then hit her up side the head with a paint palette.

Mostly

You can't force people to be creative. You've build her a golden bridge, and if she won't take it, she won't. I should think that leaving her be will help her to sort things out within herself. Maybe she should lock herself in an enmpty and dark room to figure things out. Well... or similar rooms

Tube

You did REALLY well! Better than most of us.

On a practical note: You might tell her or ask her to give herself that permission. Saying "What happens when you give yourself permission to do it?" would work - she has to imagine giving herself permission in order to answer the question. If the conversation comes round that way, try it, and see what happens.

To make you feel better: Listen to the Eagles song "Get Over It" (first track on Hell Freezes Over). It includes the line "I want to take your innner child, and kick its little ass".

agcB

Well, I am going to try and put myself in the position of the poor inhibited lady. She obviously, as has been said, has some serious hang-ups and needs gentle treatment. We have no idea what it was you were trying to get her to do, so it is difficult to reconstruct the situation exactly. Probably she was very nervous in this situation and wanted really to say something slightly different, which then came out like that. She may be kicking herself or squirming, and definitely feeling really really silly about having said it now.

Why don't you take the class for a drink after the next lesson and get her to relax in your company. If she can't do that, then she probably needs professional help, but let's hope an informal get-together does the trick. Once you have got her on your side and perhaps once she's seen you do something a bit silly (whether intentionally or not; you might spill your drink a bit, or just laugh or tell a silly joke yourself, possibly an anecdote about yourself to relieve any tension. I'm not asking you to act like a clown or anything, but show that you are a normal person) she may drop her inhibitions. Remember, she may be frantically in awe of you, you never know, older people can have very old-fashioned ideas about people like teachers, doctors, lawyers. For something as creative and intimate as painting, she needs to feel more relaxed.

She is obviously a control freak, so give her a feeling that she is in charge. If she feels she is in charge of her whole project, she will maybe feel less of a need to cling so tightly to the reins of little bits of it.

If you see this suggestion as infeasible, please excuse me. I am a lousy teacher, but I think I have seen situations like this before.
One thing that really ought to happen, to clear the air, though, is that you should bring this up again to give her a chance to rectify any misunderstandings, as I think she was having difficulty expressing exactly what she was trying to say.

HTH

Maggie,

What ever happened to your student? Did she ever give herself permission to become a better artist?

Just wondering,

Mostly Harmless

Or maybe she just doesn't want to do things your way.I frequently as an art teacher in secondary education have found that students get an idea in their mind and stick to it through thick and thin.They resent any 'interference' in that idea.Any way there is no right or wrong way in art surely?

Good grief! - when I remember my art teacher at school - we wouldn't have dared suggest anything out of line! He was a monster. Put me off art for life. Nearly put me off men.

One has to ask: why was the student attend a class if she wasn't willing to learn or be taught?

I would point out that if she is unwilling to follow my suggestions, then there is absolutely nothing I can do for her as a teacher. Tell her when she has permission, she should let me know. Then, I would spend my time with the students who want to learn from me.

Well I have been on both sides here.When I was taking a pause(to have my children)I took an Adult Ed class in Pottery just to keep my creative juices flowing.I knew what I wanted to achieve and had the ability to step outside the box so to speak.The tutor quite wisely left me to it apart from offering some technical expertise from time to time.If I had been forced to follow some rigid regime I would have just voted with my feet and gone somewhere else.
However I have also taught Adult Ed Pottery myself and found most people were only to happy to be offered suggestions as to direction with their work.
So a wise teacher/tutor will be ready to help those who want help and will have enough sense to leave those who are happy to just do their own thing alone.

Just dug this out of the archive. Wondered what ever happened to the artist in question.

As per most of the viewpoints on here, here are my comments.

I reckon just leave the student to get on with it in their own time assuming it doesn't impact anyone else. I assume it's not, say like a team sport, where waiting for them could lose the game. If they paid their money and they aren't taking up anyone else's time who cares whether they grasp the opportunity to become an artist. Spend your time with those who want to learn. You're paid (?) to teach art not be a therapist.

bbs