When I am teaching, I feel like the best possible version of myself. I feel a deep sense of purpose and well-being when I share what I’ve learned so far about art with other people.

Before I started teaching, I didn’t really know what it would be like. Here are some excerpts from my teaching journals over the years, to help anyone who is wondering what teaching art is really like.

• You might have the opportunity to work with all ages. K-12 Art Teachers tend to work with multiple grade levels, with one teacher potentially seeing every student in an entire school. Adjunct instructors at colleges or universities tend to work in multiple settings, which could include serving K-12 audiences or older adults at schools, museums or nonprofits. Working with a range of ages can be exciting as it allows you to learn about the interests of different generations and how they think, solve problems, and view the world.

• People (generally) tend to like art, or at least appreciate their art class. The good news is that if you keep your curriculum somewhat open, you’ll make room for it to be enjoyable for all ages. Not everyone is going to love making art, but you can make it relaxing or interesting for students even if it’s not their primary academic goal or hobby. There’s something for everyone to appreciate. I’ve found that even among the students less interested in art, the tone in art classes tends to be positive.

• You learn along with your students. Peering into another person’s creative process and instincts can give you insight into your own practice, and in how to keep an open mind. It is incredibly humbling. You might have students who are as skilled or more skilled than you in some areas. Or an eight year old who can do what you were not able to do until you were fifteen! These can be humbling and empowering realizations, and can push you to learn more every day. It also gives you an opportunity to model growth mindset and lifelong learning for your students.

• It makes you a more patient person and a better listener. When done well, teaching is really about listening and meeting your students where they are/noticing them for who they are. It’s a daily exercise in respect for others regardless of differences in life experience or artistic preferences. Gone are the days of the sage teacher lecturing to a classroom of silent students (for good reason)! Take the time to listen to what your students have to say, both aloud and in their art or writing. This will allow you to put their voices at the center of their learning experiences. The more purposefully you practice being patient, especially in the most difficult classroom situations, the more you will strengthen that skill.

• You’ll need to prioritize your health. Teaching art can be exhausting, since there are often many strong emotions involved when students are making their art, and you are there to walk them through their excitement about a new project, their frustration when it isn’t going the way they planned, and everything in between. You’re giving so much of yourself, and likely talking all day long, especially with little ones. You’ll need to pace yourself and find little tricks and ways to preserve your energy bank and your voice, while guarding your free time.

• It might change your art. It might change your relationship to your own art, if you make art. For some, teaching art satisfies their creativity. My experience has been the opposite. After a day of teaching, I am filled with ideas and the impulse to create something. Sometimes, there is not enough time because teaching is demanding and time-consuming. So you might have to exercise patience and wait until the weekend or a school break to get any studio time in. For me, it means that my studio time is more purposeful because I know I don’t get as much of it as I did when I was an MFA or BFA student. You might also get ideas from conversations you have with students. Maybe you are helping a student learn about 3D printing, or P5, which is also new to you, and eventually this technology makes its way into your art. Be open to the unpredictable ways your teaching might change your art.

  Open yourself up to what teaching art has to offer. Guiding art students can be a beautiful way of life, and you can have a lasting influence on your students and your school community.