Six weeks ago I was in Morocco celebrating a friends 60th birthday. We were a mixed group of 17 partygoers, English, Italian, French ages ranging from mid 30s to early 80’s. It was a fabulous weekend and once back in my studio near Granada I was allowing the colours, shapes and textures of Morocco to feed into my work and getting ready for a show in Fuengirola.
A week later I was searching for flight back to the UK, it was becoming clear that Spain would be next in line for shutting its borders and we realized we had a choice to stay put for potentially months, or to get back to the UK. We left…. with just hand luggage.
As Malaga airport was so packed with people and no sign of any attempts to prevent the spread of C-19, on our return we self-isolated for 10 days, missing a window of opportunity to see our children and grandchildren. But we, and they are well and that is all that is important.
I set to work rescheduling workshops that were due to run through May and June and whilst I was doing that more than one person said I should try doing something online. Online teaching is something that had been at the back of my mind for a while but having just moved into my lovely huge studio I was enjoying teaching and working there so didn’t feel the need to add another layer to my life. But whilst that layer has been abruptly put on ice, bills still need to be paid, I still need something to do and people more than ever want to learn new skills and ideas.
Before my feet could touch the ground I announced to the world a date when a series of workshops would start, April 3rd. There was no going back! For a variety of reasons I didn’t want to charge for them; I’m new to this, they may be rubbish, people have enough to worry about, what if the technology defeats me etc . All reasons many artists give for not charging for their art! But then after a long conversation with a fellow artist who sells her online workshops it was clear that I have decades of experience in both art and teaching that as with art, if I gave it away would undermine its value and devalue the work of others. So, I came to a compromise and asked for donations, so far so good. Those who can’t afford to pay get a freebie as a gift from me, those who can get extra content.
Having decided the dates and format it then came down to how to adapt a one-day workshop for 6 people in my studio with everything on hand, to a series of short lessons in a room that is only 6mtrs square! I assembled materials, laptop, lights and an extra camera, researched software etc and set to work.
Initially it was going to go live…but it soon became clear that a) that is super stressful and b) streaming live for 45 minutes is not without problems. New words entered my vocabulary; bitrate, lag, encoder and RTMP!
So, I decided to pre-record them, but they would be scheduled to be aired at a certain day/time to create the same excitement as a live stream. I did a short intro video and then a day before the scheduled slot recorded my very first online workshop. Well I thought I had but I hadn’t pressed record so I did it again…and again.
The response was nothing short of amazing! I got messages and emails from all over the world, 3000 people watched the first one and whilst the numbers are not as high for the subsequent ones they are still in healthy four figures. Nearly 50 people have made a donation which has enabled me to buy better lights, another webcam and pay my studio rent for this month. But more importantly I am enjoying them, it suits me! Chatting away, demonstrating a few techniques, answering questions, planning lessons, buying gadgets ..what’s not to like! I have accumulated a headful of otherwise useless and fairly niche information over the years that I can now share to a wider audience. So thank you all for watching, and I hope you have found them useful and inspiring.
So what’s next? I have more plans! I took part in an online webinar about teaching online and I have decided I am going to reshoot and repackage the Oil and Cold Wax project and launch it on a suitable online platform. That way people get easier access, smarter content, I continue to share and earn, and the company who I pay to host it deals with the payments etc.
This first series of Oil and Cold Wax lessons I plan to call ’Materials and Methods’, once someone has done those they can then choose to continue developing their skills and ideas with a range of options ‘Approaches to Abstraction ‘ ‘Looking at Landscape’ and ‘Shapes and Surfaces in Still Life’. There will be the opportunity to post work and receive feedback. Of course if you have been doing the current series of lessons and feel you are fully conversant with ‘Materials and Methods’ you can just leap into one or all of the others! Before you ask, I have no idea of timeframe or costs so bear with me!
What’s next online and for FREE? I have three more projects planned and am currently putting supplies lists on my website so you can get your kit ready! After this series I will be doing another 4 or 5 sessions exploring monotype printmaking, I will be teaching how to create exciting monoprints using a Gelli© plate and GOLDEN Open acrylic paints, these prints will then be used to create interesting collages and/or artists books.
After that I am planning a series of collagraphy sessions using a craft press, in my case an Xcut Xpress but other make exist. We will be using acrylic pastes and gels to create painterly plates and then printing them intaglio.
Finally a series of workshops using the same pastes and gels but mixed with acrylic paint….Textural Surfaces. This is an ideal workshop for those who either found the Oil and Cold Wax too slow to dry, or who want to work without solvents.
Southern Wall Passage Night Walk
All in all a busy couple of months ahead and all thanks to you guys for giving me the encouragement! I now just need to keep busy and keep well…so stay safe, and keep in touch.
A woman with a plan! Love it! I have really enjoyed your recent videos!
Thanks Joan!! My daughter thinks I should be using this time to relax and reflect😂😂😂 Stay safe
So excited that you are doing this, after missing your workshop last year, I can’t wait for the next series o start xxx
You will love it😂😂
Wow! That is amazing! I am blown away by your plans – impressive!!
Really have enjoyed your videos. It will be exciting to see where this will take you. You certainly have a lot to share and teach.
Perhaps you should consider Patreon as an option? I follow several artists there.
Hi Aino So glad you have enjoyed them..I’m excited too! I’ve not looked at Patreon, I will now. I’ve been looking at Ruzuku?…Stay safe Sally
Lovely to read your blog, Sally!
Funny how this corona is helping create all sorts of new possibilities…
Love the work you just posted. I have a question: ‘Southern Wall’ and ‘Passage’ – is this using the Textural Surfaces? Could be the alternative to solvents? Love them!
Hi Ilana, thank you❤❤ Yes these are acrylic paintings using gels and pastes to build textures….😊
I have absolutely loved watching these videos and you are a natural teacher. I look forward to the other workshops. Thanks to Jacksons for sending out the original email as I would not have found you or your workshops.
There is definitely a world of online teaching out there. Have you looked at Skillshare as a platform? I follow many artists on there and have even tried my hand at teaching too. It is not easy either so I applaud you. Can’t wait for the all the other lessons you have to offer!
Hi Kate, Yes, Jacksons are great! The article I wrote for them really whacked my traffic up! I looked into skill share but found it a bit restrictive,..I’m looking at Ruzuko. Glad you are enjoying them!
Loved reading this blog, and have learned so much from the cold wax videos – something I’ve never done before, and now have time to practise. Your energy is amazing and it’s been lovely to see more of your paintiings. Go, go go!
THanks Fiona! xxxxxx
Can you bottle your energy and enthusiasm. It is extremely motivating.
Thanks Avril!! xxxxxx
Wonderful blog Sally. Glad you were able to get back to UK. I too was in Spain until March 5th so got back from Malaga region just in time too. Loving following you workshops. thank you x Julia Keenan
Thanks Julia!Yes, glad we got back…apart from the virus its way to hot there in May…
Thank you so much for making this life on lockdown easier. And for Share your knowledge and experience with us. I enjoyed your cold wax videos and I’m looking forward for join to your new workshops.
Thank you! I am enjoying making them….:)
Hi Sally,
I just wanted to say how great your videos have been. I am lucky enough to have been to a few of your courses and can confirm to anyone thinking of booking one in the future once we are all released back into the wild, that they will not regret it, you are a brilliant teacher, open, honest, incredibly generous with your knowledge and very supportive and I consider it a privilege to consider you a friend.
Oh my Samara, you are not allowed to reduce me to tears! I’m meant to be a tough cookie but I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to my videos… Can’t wait until this lockdown ends and we can have coffee and cake😍😍
I am really enjoying your lessons. I have done a lot of printmaking in the past and am overjoyed to discover Gelli plates. Thank you.
Than you Irena😁
So enjoying your videos Sally. You are so incredibly generous with your knowledge and it is making the self isolation exciting and making us use our time creatively. I am still experimenting with intaglio from the last workshop I did with you and enjoying experimenting with different materials.
Now I want to get those gelli plates!
Thank you so much.
Margaret
Hi Margaret, Thank you so much! Im enjoying it and its taking my mind off the world outside my little apartment! On Friday I show how to Gelli print onto an intaglio print…its all connected! Love to you both xxx