Lisa Thorpe

Prepping, “Gods Work”?…well maybe…

I know, I know, a lofty thought, but I was grousing about my whole week being about prepping and teaching art with no space for making art and the chaplain here at The Bishop’s Ranch, Pat Moore, said its  “God’s work” so I’m going with it.  She said that preparing well to teach a class is a gift, it shows I value my students and their time.  To make clear instructions and ready materials opens up the participants, be they children or adults, to explore the medium at hand, it gives them a ease and comfort to dive in and find their own voice.  Put into that lovely gilded frame I’m not as frustrated and overwhelmed by my week.  And to be perfectly honest, after 20 plus years teaching, I prep for these classes with great rigor and detail because it makes me feel more comfortable as I teach, it makes me a better instructor.  So I suppose there’s art involved after all just not the kind you can hang up on the wall.  I taught (or readied to teach) everyone from Kindergarten to adults in 8 different class.  I’m most excited about a new adventure in teaching that I’m getting ready for at the end of the month.  I’ll be teaching 3 classes at the CREATE Conference in Orange County.  It is going to be a amazing hub of creative energy.  Here are two links, the first to the CREATE conference workshop list, second to a blog hop that lists instructors, like me, and their blogs, if you like what I’m up to you should check them out too! Spread the word to all your friends who are creative explorers in Southern California, maybe they can join in the fun.

Here are all the things I prepped for or taught this week! Click on images below for larger view.