A place of no regrets

follow your passion; sacrificing your calling for something else actually doesn’t really work, in my experience — you won’t enjoy the other thing until you are centered

I always get asked this question by young artists and I think of it terms of what is stable and what has a small window of time. I believe that being a full time painter is worth a lack of stability, and that there will be no regrets if you work your hardest and harder than anyone else at it. I believe that since there are tons of teaching jobs around and that it is really hard for life to get in the way of a painting life as you grow older and have more responsibilities, So I say take two years if you can and work your but off at following your passion. The teaching stable jobs will be there in two years, Take the path less traveled and your life will take you in some crazy unique directions that will be above the norm. If you love to paint there will be no work, yet you will be “working” so much more than you will than at a stable job. yet that work will be to better yourself, it maybe harder but those struggles will make your work stronger. granted some kids might miss out on an amazing teacher, but you can always teach just for the love of it as you pursue the painting gig, thats what I do and I love teaching a workshop of students who are all there ready and eager to learn, not students that are taking a class cause they haft to. Sorry for the ramble, Best of luck with everything. david

Being an artist is being an entrepreneur. Since most people do not see themselves as being able to achieve the instant flexibility required of a risk – taker for life, they may not take on that risk. Yet, we all are alive 24/7 until we’re… dead. So either you take the full life and risks, or you stay half awake and think you are secure. Either way, we are only as stable as we make ourselves and take care to be stable, at least fianacially. As Dolly Parton used to say, she wanted to be a famous singer and she did it, all along knowing that she might be waiting tables to support her art.

Going back to a previous newsletter about focus, if you want to be a successful artist, then you must focus totally on that. And yes I know that’s not always possible, but unless you’re some kind of super hero you just can’t create as much art as you need to when you’ve also got all kinds of other responsibilities. I was just reading the other day that the bible says you can’t serve two masters. Pretty much true. So even if you only do it for six months by the end of that period you’ll know whether or not it’s for you. And quit working on the kitchen table. Find a space that’s a dedicated creative area that doesn’t have to come down whenever soups on.

This is also a question of economics. If you are of independent means or have a patron, devoted friends or other means of paying your bills, then you probably don’t need a “steady” job and can fulfill your craving to be an artist, with no worry about the future (?). If, on the other hand, you want to widen your experience of life (that will flow into your art) and use the educational skills you have learnt at college, maybe it would be a good idea to give teaching a chance, at least for a limited period, which I would put at not less than a school year. You might even like it and benefit from the sharing experience. Painting does not preclude teaching, or vice versa. In fact, if you could fire some of your students with your enthusiasm and passion, that would be an art in itself. Of course, you risk being consumed by having to keep regular (school) hours and contributing to the welfare of your students. But I don’t think that will happen if you keep your own fires burning. And there are perks. You could organize exhibitions of your work and that of the really talented students within the school framework and beyond it. That would open doors to ways of showing and selling your art. Parents are also customers! Don’t knock school teaching, anyone please. There is a saying that goes “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” How disastrous if everyone thought that way. Remember your favourite teacher at school? Remember being inspired by him or her? You have reason to be grateful to anyone who contributed in a positive way to your childhood and youth. Go out and carry on the good work, Wendy! There are far too many talent-free teachers around! That explains why so many discover or unwrap their talents so much later in life and flock to self-improvement workshops and courses. Enough said.

P.S. I get irate when I read romantic twaddle about being an artist. Nobody comes into this world wearing a label. Achievements normally have to be earned.

Having a bad teacher in High School when I attended art classes, I gave up all ideas of art because I was told I had no artistic talent whatsoever. At age 16 I had to earn a living. My mother told me not to depend on anyone else to pay my rent and to learn how to be an independent woman. It wasn’t until the age of 27 when I immigrated to New York City, that I learned shorthand and typing and got a job in a large company which led me into sketching. A good teacher helped me get into painting. And now my paintings have given pleasure to others in offices, in homes, and is my legacy. I painted what I value most in life. Nature, in all its glory of the seasons. I, too, relax as I have my “children” around me in my own apartment in Manhattan. I taught myself from observation, of listening to others’ love of flowers, of landscapes and skies. Yes, I have been asked to teach, but I am glad that I continued teaching myself. It never paid the rent, but the contentment it brought to hear the praise, means everything to me in my old age. I would suggest that anyone wanting to paint to go ahead, read, buy supplies, and just paint. The scenes are already in your own memory and how you paint is uniquely yours alone, a hobby that draws you to your easel at the end of your workday. Do not think of money — few artists sell what they paint. A agent came into my life who loves my paintings, and the business side of art is taken off my shoulders. I will leave this life with 600 successful paintings — all memories of England where I grew up in the 1930s. www.artbyjoygush.com

Joy, I think your story reflects what so many have experienced. But not only at the hands of bad teachers. Parents can be just as destructive. Unless there’s a real fire burning inside, it’s impossible to fulfil any dreams, but dreams can be dashed by destructive even if well-meaning relatives, teachers etc. Speaking for myself, I started singing at a very young age and my parents encouraged me. But when my mother realised that I was seriously considering a singing career, her attitude changed to negative. She had herself been prevented from following her own calling and instead of learning from that bitter experience, she was trying to pass it on to me. I had a French teacher who was a frustrated singer. That woman told me almost every school day that I had too little talent. She was jealous, of course. I didn’t realise that until much later. Fortunately I didn’t listen, but of course I had to pay may way and was lucky enough to be able to do that in the theatre. I agree that it is essential to become independent. Independence is also part of the spiritual path to becoming an artist. Dependency is not creative. And poverty is debilitating. I’m thinking now of Alexander Borodin (1833-1887 – almost parallel life dates to those of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner). Borodin was an academic, a chemist who wrote over 40 books on chemistry. He was also a prolific composer. He wrote more (wonderful) chamber music than any of his contemporaries. But he was first a chemist and then a composer. That might have made him an amateur musician, but we don’t have to classify artists in this way. A sold painting is not necessarily better than an unsold one…..

Yes, Wendy, you don’t know if it’ll work unless you try. So go for it while you can.

Teaching, whether it is art or any other subject, can be as much of a vocation as freelance painting. It’s wonderful to be able to show students a new way to express themselves; for some, it may be life-changing. Very good advice to try both so you can find out which suits you. All the advice in the world is not worth an iota of experience.

Robert has provided his usually sage counsel, backed with the voice of experience. I would also suggest to Wendy that she needs to ask herself how important the various aspects of her life and her ambition are to her. What does she want to do with her art, and what does she want it to do for her? How self-directed is she? Does she have the discipline to be her own boss? Will she, and those around her, consider her a failure if she does not achieve commercial success, e.g. sell paintings? Commercial success is only one aspect of determining one’s achievement, but it is one by which people are often measured. How important is security? That monthly teaching wage means a lot to the mortgage manager if she is thinking of buying a house. How supportive is her partner? If Wendy opts to paint fulltime, will there be resentment that the partner is the major breadwinner? What do those around her think about the quality/market potential for her artwork? There are many talented, passionate painters out there; very few achieve critical or commercial success: how do others rate her chances? All these questions aside, I envy Wendy her predicament: she is in the fortunate position of being able to make choices. Good teachers are hard to come by, especially in fields where subjective truths are the norm; as other clickback responders have noted, if she can share the joy of her passion with others, that is a gift in itself. Whatever she decides, good luck! And while, whatever her decision, there are likely to be “what if” thoughts down the road, she should be comfortable with her decision.

i have no regrets teacing art on high school level for twenty years and now retired nearly as long. i painted, showed, and grew as i learned with my students and now i am opening tomorrow at a local gallery and am looking forward to visits from former students as well as my chidldren and grandchildren. during my retirement i have had many shows, awards, and the joy of creating full time. life is full and good. part of my journey was marrying my own art teacher. i avoided the younger educational opportunities in teaching, and found the high school age great. i have no regrets. oh, iwas a single mom of two when i became a teacher at age 33.

Thank you soooo much for sharing all your valuable knowledge and opinions with me!!!!

And just to add a little bit more to the story, I completed a 4-month internship at a High School in which I loved the teaching experience but not the environment. I would like to teach to people that want to be there (perhaps private workshops – and how would I get a portfolio together if I do not paint?) I have recently become a daily painter, and I keep a blog about that. I think that after much thought and reading what all of you have said, I am giving myself a period to live and breathe art. I am working on my thesis at the moment so it is just perfect timing! If there is a time in my life in which I can “risk” everything it is NOW. I have the support of my parents, my boyfriend, I do not have any children and I have a part time job that will allow me to buy my art supplies. Perhaps in a year you will be hearing from me again… Thank you all for giving me your feedback! And just in case you are wondering what my art looks like: www.wendyximenastudio.com

Wendy, you’re young enough to indulge in several false starts and still change gears and soar. Asking “What should I do?” tells me you still aren’t sure how to feed your passion. It’s not a question of choosing between art or teaching, is it? What would be wrong with weekends and devoting summers completely to your art? An annual three-month sabbatical in total immersion? I would be inclined to try the teaching gig first to either eliminate it from your career plans or embrace it. With children, everything changes. Some of my favorite memories are of my girls napping on the floor in my studio. That scene can’t happen in a classroom. One very wise comment surfaced out of the women’s movement of the 70s; “You can have it all, just not at the same time.” And where is “he” in all this? Does he have a home business he can nurture children? I don’t read of any concession in his career plans to support you.

Without reading all of the foregoing comments yet, I say, after a life like mine,”do both.” You probably can. I know several others who have and do. It’s rewarding on two levels. What a grand life!

In teaching others, you find that you stoke the fires of your own imagination in the process.

Life is a journey with no road map and many bumps and turns. Follow your muse and paint first. Your young and have time to work it out. No rush. Even with degrees there is no guarantee of being a successful artist. It’s a crap shoot with the best education. Take the time to paint your heart, and make life changes as you go. There is no hard and fast rule. Trust your heart and not what we say here. Only you will know your true path

I used to teach I am retired now and thought I would paint so much more when I no longer taught. It didn’t happen that way. I was far more inspired and productive when I was teaching. I also did travel painting trips then which I loved. You can do both, teach and paint, best of both worlds. Being in a studio alone all the time can get lonely.

What a wonderful plethora of experience wisdom from everyone! Wendy, I sincerely wish you the best of exploring YourSelf as you embark on your worldly journey. That is the most important thing we can all do, use life to experience who we truly are, what is important to us, and how we can live that in harmony and intention. Glad you have made a decision, and so happy for you that you opened the question up to a Grand body of peers so you could get more objectivity and perspective and feel more grounded about your decisions. Community with others in Trust, is ALWAYS beneficial to walking our Path. Onward and Upwards Wendy!

If you like teaching, continue with your education so you can teach on the college level. It is great to teach people who want to be there and are so thrilled with their advancement. You will still have time to do your own work and then show it and you will learn more teaching and continuing to study than if you just worked on your own. There is something to be said for a steady paycheck and there’s a lot of freedom and time on the college level,unlike the K-12 levels. I’d also highly recommend taking a business class somewhere along the way, my business minor helped me exponentially to buy art supplies and understand contracts, etc. College teachers get more respect and, if you are a good enough painter you can have both worlds!

Wendy, Unless you are marrying someone who will support your art habit, while you are struggling to make it, I would go for the sure thing and teach for a few years. You can do your art at the same time, and you would have summers off from teaching. You need to have something solid in your life, after all someone paid for college so you could teach!!

My advise would be go for the teaching position, you have security and income plus lots of vacation time. The students win because they have a teacher with a passion for art and you win because there are 24 hours in a day so you can still do your own art. A lot of teachers that I know end up switching to part time teaching. I can think of no better combination than being an art teacher and an artist.

Ain’t this the crux of the biscuit! Possible advice to young people can range from do it for a while, through do some of each, by way of follow your bliss, to being driven. My only advice would be along the lines of evaluating what you want to be doing, which is a different question from what do you want to be. Wanting to be an artist is a different perspective than wanting to paint (or sculpt or assemble). An artists life can wind up being a myriad of different things, and some apriori idea of what that might mean to a young person should be closely reviewed. It can include relative wealth, creative satisfaction, prestige or respect, or it can go the way of failure, poverty, or even madness. What will not be a chimera is the urge, the drive, the need to make things. The difference needs to be sorted out and understood.

As it happens I do not write you often but when my buttons get pushed I write. I happen to be one of those artist teacher people…even have an MAT myself from the University of Washington. I began by not wanting to teach but at the ripe old age of 20 found myself with a chance to finish up a spring semester after I married doing just that, fifth grade to be exact and after I returned to college, the next fall signed up for some ed courses and between my second and third child was accepted in the MAT program and happily began teaching again after I finished. So for fourty five years I have had the wonderful experience of always learning and sharing that with others…what a blessing to be gifted to do both! My horizons are ever expanding and my husband and I have a website for like-minded sharers! www.standwoodhouse.com So I wish the writer all the best and much encouragement in whatever she chooses.

To teach or not to teach? That coincides in my mind with a more fundamental question-to eat or not to eat? I have been in exactly the same position. I chose eating and thus teaching. I married, raised a family of 5, taught for 21 years and retired to become what I always wanted to be-a full time painter. School reaching was exciting before the repetition of lessons, problems of students, and lack of support from the administration took all the joy away. I taught different levels and at different schools. After 21 years of teaching I finally retired to a lifetime of painting. Now my days are filled with the excitement and joy of creation. Painting is my life and I love it. My only regret is that I had to wait so many years to have the quality time to spend in my studio. My advice to the young painter is to take the teaching position for now and hold onto the dream of developing as a painter. Paint at night, on weekends and during vacations. Some later day your ship will come in and it can become your life.

For Wendy I would say that it is true that being “an artist” is an “all in” game if it is your profession and you expect it to provide a living for you. However, there are no guarantees, even if you’re exceptional and work really hard. I have had the opportunity to be an art teacher and now to be a full time artist. It is true that if you are a good teacher you will not be able to have enough energy left to really invest in your own painting, but there is a unique aspect to teaching schedules called summer break when you can devote yourself completely to your work. You will find this frustrating because you will just be getting somewhere when you have to stop and return to teaching. I gave myself the gift of going for a Masters degree in the summer at The Rhode Island School of Design thinking it would help me become a better teacher and it ended up making me a much more serious artist and I left teaching. The really great thing that can happen when you teach is that you can become a positive influence in other lives. Just this year after many years have gone by I have gotten two calls from former students thanking me for influencing their lives in a positive way. One is now an art teacher and the other has a very successful photography business which he attributes to a project I had him do in high school. So both choices can turn out great and you have a lot of years to do it all! Good Luck and Happy Painting.

Dear Mr. Genn, First, I must let you know how much I enjoy your Letters. Many of them speak to my art-heart. Others remind me why I am an artist. Almost always they inspire. Occasionally I read a Letter and disagree. This is the first time I’ve felt a need to respond. Please tell Wendy Ximena Ordonez Hurtado teaching art in high school may be one of the best investments in her life as an artist she may ever make. There are the usual benefits of a secure salary, medical insurance, and periodic vacations… and perhaps a pension at the end of her career. But that’s not the best part. The best part is that she will touch the lives of thousands of young adults in a positive way. I graduated from the University in art education in 1967. That was the year I began my art teaching career at South Medford High School. Not only was I was surrounded by enthusiastic teenagers eight hours a day… I was surrounded by a constant creative atmosphere, challenged to learn more, given opportunities to experiment with new art materials… basically, I was given the opportunity to learn and grow as an artist while I was guiding young people toward their artistic successes. My own art career grew and matured during those 30 years. In.1966 I retired to become a full time professional watercolorist. In the last fifteen years I have been a popular juror and workshop teacher the USA, and in many foreign countries. My paintings have received more than fifty national and regional awards… most recently at the 2010 American Watercolor Society in NYC. At a recent workshop one of my students asked a question that made me stop and think… “If you could name one thing you did to make your make your art better, what would it be?” My answer was simple… “I was a high school art teacher for thirty years.”

For more than 30 years I was a teacher of early childhood classes both in private and public schools in New York City. Together with my passion for the arts and my degree in fine arts (CCNY)… I persued a teaching career, married and raised a family without losing an interest in drawing and painting , the things that I like to do best. Though it didn’t happen every day, the studio space in my house was ready and waiting as I needed it. My children were included; I am proud to say that my daughter is today an award winning artist, illustrator and graphc designer.( she makes her living at this as does her husband )…. I took my talents into my classrooms and used art as my basic philosophy to teach the core curriculcum…I was very successful and touched the minds of countless youngsters from the earliest grades through middle school…some of my former students have gone on to study art. I have long been an advocate for the promotion of art in schools and communities for I strongly believe that art is a valuable teaching tool that many professionals tend to overlook. Using art as a stimulus to reach the most difficult of students most often works to open new doors. It is true that the schools that I taught in were accepting at the time, of a teacher’s special abilities and innovative ideas. Unfortunately this is not always the case… but that is all the more reason to work toward proving your point. So I offer the young person who can’t quite make the decision as to whether to choose teaching or delve into art full time…the suggestion that in today’s world, she might want to consider the reality of a secure profession and enhance that with her talents and ideas. Those creative juices, if nurtured will continue to develop throughout her lifetime being shared with and benefitting others.

I did not agree with your advice. I agree with Faith (5/27). I live in Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. I see some very talented young artists unable to make a living. Why not accept the teaching job in a school? I believe she should take it, and seriously dedicate her free time to her ART. As you often admonish, it will require discipline, but it is possible. No bitterness, no regrets. Personally, I have regrets. I had to take an office job while my family was growing up. When I retired to Florida, I decided to take classes at the University and dedicate my life to art. Now, I can afford the luxury of painting as I please. My paintings are very personal, they don’t sell, but I am having fun. Furthermore, I am part of a program called “Arts-in-Medicine”, which gives me great satisfaction. We bring the arts to the bedside at the local hospital. There is an umbrella organization for all arts-in-medicine programs in the U.S. and Canada. The name is: The Society for the Arts in Healthcare. Could you help us support the ARTS by divulging their site? Here it is: www.thesah.org Then click on “Support Us” I have donated a painting to help in their fund raising efforts. Although I am aware that we are all “starving artists”, I encourage your artistic readership to donate whatever they can to support the Society for the Arts in Healthcare.

Hi Robert, Having read your most recent article about teaching Art as opposed to working as a professional artist I have much to add. I was admitted to art school in 1960 and my family could not afford the fees ,so I opted to do a general diploma in art education which the Northern Ireland government paid for and I graduated with a teaching degree in Art. I taught in all kinds of difficult situations for thirty five years but absolutely did not lose my joy and passion to become a painter as opposed to an educator. I would spend weekends, early mornings before class working in my studio. I enrolled in every summer school course on art and just kept up with my passion. I I loved the way I could respond to the work my students were achieving and how they could be mentored and guided by my example. Always, I wished to be a full time painter and I had to wait thirty five years to achieve my goal. I rehabilitated myself by taking time out, taught in the UK ,and went back to UBC to complete my B.E in art Ed and I really can be sure that we do not lose out trusting how much can be gained by being a teacher. I was so amazed by being awarded the first ever Richmond City award for artistic merit recognition for my teaching skills. So we really underestimate the power we have to influence our students.

In response to Wendy’s query about teaching… I am approaching my 30th year in teaching…part-time. I am not an EVERY DAY teacher. When I am painting I don’t teach, and when I am teaching, I don’t paint. I knew when I was younger that to be a teacher every day requires more commitment and sacrifice than I was willing to give. I knew myself well enough that if I were a teacher every day, I would not produce the art work I wished to create nor would I have the time to even think about it. Add to that the added responsibilities to your school…there will be a lot of unpaid overtime in order to get things done. You will have to deal with student and parent issues as well. On the plus side, you will have a steady income, insurance, summer’s off (sometimes) to paint, the undying gratitude of students that love you dearly, and the knowledge that you have passed down your insight to another generation. What if you choose the path of the artist? You may or may not have a steady income…at least for a while. You will need to become a promoter, secretary, record keeper, and salesperson, in addition to being an artist that produces work. Hours are long, sometimes lonely, and usually unpaid. You will have to deal with unreasonable customers occasionally. Benefits to choosing this path include, but are not limited to…the freedom to set your hours (and stick to them,) the ability to create the work you wish to create, possibly gallery exhibitions, and (hopefully) an abundance of sales because people love what you do. So, you see, it really depends on where your heart is, as both are noble professions. What you are willing to sacrifice? What you expect from either experience? No one can make this choice but you, because you know yourself better than anyone. Ask yourself the hard questions and you will find your answer…without regrets.

Wendy You are finishing University with your Masters of Art Ed. Not Art History or Fine Art so you must have some sort of passion for education as well as your art. So why don’t you approach your favourite employer with the idea to teach 2 days a week (regular cash in the bank) and spend 3 days a week in your studio (growth & establishing your “other” career). At the end of the first year you should know if you need to continue this way or you can take that giant leap into the full time art. OR here’s my favourite idea… You must like educating students in art so why don’t you draft a proposal for a unique art program in the school of your choice. Many schools nowadays have spare rooms. Offer to convert one of those rooms into a full time teaching studio for gifted students. You paint fulltime on your work and take on mentoring those gifted students in studio cubicles of their own. Specify in the contract the number of hours you’ll be spending mentoring & number of students plus how you plan to grade the students at the end of each semester. If I had had this program in my high school I would have moved in with my sleeping bag & coffee pot. What you don’t want in your teaching career are the kids who sign up for art ’cause “you don’t have to do anything”. Please don’t waste your time with those kids UNLESS you have that special skill to bring them into the art world and bring out their excitement for art. But be prepared for alot of sweat & tears.

I was an art teacher for 30 years and during that time I realised that teaching art was my passion. I was continually learning (and have never stopped) new ways to help problem solve with my art students. When I was young and first starting out to teach, there was the idea that those who couldn’t master their subject, taught, but I completely disagree with that philosophy. A master teacher is invaluable and teaching was the very best thing I could have done. I was also able to continue with my own art work while I was teaching and now that I’m retired I’m completely involved with my own art. I feel so fortunate that I decided to teach because through doing this I have become a life long learner. I feel I’ve had the very best of both worlds.

Very true what you say. To Wendy I’d say that if you have to make your way in art and live off it at the same time, you may encounter great difficulties, either in surviving or in choosing your own path. I always advise budding artists to take a job on the side. If you could limit teaching to just a few days per week —excuse my ignorance concerning teacher salaries in Florida, a few days per week may not be enough to live off— there is enough time to flesh out your dreams in art. Usually, it takes a beginning artist about ten years to discover who she or he really is, and to build up a sufficient client base to survive the daily onslaught of modern society. Some, like myself, strike out as full-time artists and manage to keep their lips above the waterline. You are (perhaps!) too young to see yourself clearly, but if you feel you have an aggressive mind, if you want to do art no matter what, go out and do what a woman’s gotta do. Know that the artist’s life is likely to offer little stability in the way of income, but many freedoms. The lack of stability may be a bigger scare in success-oriented American society than in Europe, I’m not sure. “Mediocre success” is no big deal; being a mediocre artist weighs heavier on the soul. The two do not run in tandem: I have friends who are great artists but are forced to live on meagre pickings, and dud artists who earn major bucks. Great satisfaction may lie in a life of helping others as an art teacher, but much drudgery in the way of rules and regulations is part of modern education. To me that felt like being trapped in a box. Would you be up to that?

I have just turned seventy five. I have painted all my life with up to ten years dry time. I believe my young years were for learning everything…..I am thankful I had my family of 4 children when I was young .We grew together. .in all ways . Now I pass my information on to the next generation. It is very wonderful . I love them all. i enjoy my free time to paint anytime . I am successful. Good luck………..j.

I left a lucrative career ten years ago, due to a medical condition. After flailing around for a few years, I rediscovered making art. It gave my life meaning. While I cannot perform a regular job, or paint “full time”, I put my heart and soul into my painting. The results are low on financial “success”, but huge on making meaning, and being happy with my life as an artist. Although I never asked to become disabled, I wouldn’t change a thing. No regrets. We are where we are supposed to be at this exact point in time. I guess you can tell I have been practicing yoga! My husband taught me the power of “no regrets”. If life slaps you in the face, just move on. No regrets. Wounds always heal quicker if you kiss them to make them better.

I returned home not really wanting to be a teacher, to do a brief stint with an Clothing advertising agency and after a year was offered my first teaching job. I taught one year and met my husband at which time the bulk of my working life was spent with him in the Antique car trade (a very interesting and creative business). Life takes its turns and I became a widow in my 40’s with 2 children in tow, and guess what?, I had a teaching degree in place. It was hard to break back in to teaching (most schools like to hire young) but with God’s help I re entered.

When I was in high school I wanted to take fine arts in university to concentrate on painting. My father and friends discouraged me.They told me that painting will not support me unless one is a famous I’ll be in the poor house.My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps to become a lawyer.I took nursing instead but my dream to be a painter never left me. Nursing is a very rewarding profession and it opened other opportunities for me traveling .My painting took a backseat to my profession and later marriage and rearing children.I took art classes in community school and became a “Sunday painter”.Now that I am retired from nursing I am able to concentrate on my passion for painting.I have no regrets either ;we have a comfortable life and our needs are met.I am happy the way things turned out.There crossroads we encounter and we have to make a choice on which way to go to best advantage .It is true painting if you have the talent it does not go away .I think that Wendy could have both teaching and painting since she has been prepared for it.She can excel in both roles.

Wendy, Yes you have a lot to decide. 6mths to throw yourself into your art. Great! Creative, passionate art teachers are so special. What ever you do be passionate about it. it will encourage others to become passionate. it is a gift to share.

Teaching has its own energy, and hats off to those who teach with their whole hearts. The saddest thing I see in those who teach is they don’t realize how much time and energy teaching takes. Teaching is a job like any other day job — it’s about art, but it’s not about YOUR art. Even those who teach part-time run into snags. They think they will make art “in their spare time”. But once the curriculum is developed, the lesson plans are made, the materials gathered; once the beds are made and the dishes are done; once the dog is walked, the kids are fed and bathed, and the family sneaks in a movie together, there can be precious little time left over to make art. One strategy is to learn under what conditions do you get art made? One friend discovered that he didn’t paint on his own. But he liked taking workshops. And when he did, he found could produce a lot of paintings in one class. His solution was to commit to a weekend painting workshop a month, and that gave him the opportunity to create on a regular basis. One of my strategies to expand my writing opportunities is to take a comment I’ve written in a forum or on a blog, an article that’s caught my interest. Then I expand that into my own essay.

This letter was right up my alley – I am an art teacher and have been for over 20 years. I am also an artist and exhibit my work several times a year, as well as being an active member of a coop art gallery. What you said about letting your art go by the wayside can be true. When my teaching career was younger (as was I), I had little time for that, my family and the rest of my life. But I will tell you this – I would not trade my decision to be an art teacher for anything. First of all, I have my summers and weekends and evenings to create my art. I actually get more done when my time is most limited – this is more about my personality than anything I guess. Anyway, painting and creating is how I am able to be a better teacher. I teach at the elementary level and the enthusiasm the children have is contagious. they are creative and fearless and I learn from them all of the time. It is teaching the basics to them everyday that keeps me grounded and excited to explore on my own. It is true that I do not have the time to pursue a living as a professional artist, but my steady job, paycheck and medical benefits allow me the freedom to be the artist I am. I am sometimes unable to drop work at a show because I am at work – but my other artist friends will do that for me if I pick up at the end of a show. Where there is a will there is a way! My intention is to keep making connections, selling and showing my work until I retire. At that time I can give private lessons and pursue my art full time. I do not have the need to be famous. I have a following of clients that enjoy my work and some wonderful friends who are artists. For me, the fact that I don’t have the stress of having to sell my work to pay my bills has given me the freedom to create the art that pleases me first. If you think you would like to teach, I would highly recommend it. You can always pursue the art career at a later time or at the same time – but it may be harder to get that teaching job later on.

Max Plank, the father of quantum theory, was also a talented pianist. Like Wendy, at about her age, he was torn. He asked his teacher if he should pursue a career in music. He was told, “If you have to ask, you’d better do something else.”

I was an art teacher for 30 years and during that time I realised that teaching art was my passion. I was continually learning (and have never stopped) new ways to help problem solve with my art students. When I was young and first starting out to teach, there was the idea that those who couldn’t master their subject, taught, but I completely disagree with that philosophy. A master teacher is invaluable and teaching was the very best thing I could have done. I was also able to continue with my own art work while I was teaching and now that I’m retired I’m completely involved with my own art. I feel so fortunate that I decided to teach because through doing this I have become a life long learner. I feel I’ve had the very best of both worlds.

Hi Wendy – First off I want to congratulate you on recognizing a place of passion in your life and be willing to question all those things – good job, marriage, home & stability – that we are told we all want. That doesn’t mean these aspects of your life cannot coexist but it is obvious that in the end it will be your “choice” of how things work and not just a given. I will suggest that is is very hard to stand at the beginning and look out to all future possibilities and not feel overwhelmed and confused. Throughout history there have been scores of artists who were able to combine jobs and art as well as an equal amount of artists who could not. But the starting out point is a particularly vulnerable place so I think Robert is right – if there is a way to buy some time to immerse yourself in your art before committing to the job your path will become more clear. While alone time w/ your art is all important I also believe it is good to connect w/ other artists too once in a while ie: a weekly figure drawing group, a critique group, a plein air painting day – what ever works. Having other artist’s input and support will be invaluable. In my own life – I had years, early on, that I could devote huge blocks of time to my work. Even though I did fairly well creating and selling – looking back it seems I squandered away much of that time. I even had the home and the stability but inside I often felt lost and unsatisfied w/ my art. In my 40’s I picked up and moved to the opposite coast and ended up living on a sailboat w/ twins on the way! Life, as I had envisioned it, turned on it’s ear. But as an artist – I had never been happier. While babies/children put major constraints on studio time – the time I did have (3 hrs a day) became incredibly precious and pushed me to use it fully and wisely. It also really pushed me to identify what I really wanted to do w/ my art and my life and make a commitment to that decision. And while things are still changing – I now live in a house, the twins are 14, we have gone through job loss and reinvention – I am now in my studio 5 days a week and that core decision – to make art the focus of my life – has remained steadfast.

Wendy…only you can answer your question…but first answer this question; in your heart what are you? Answer..if your inital response was not artist then take the teaching position and paint on the side. If your initial response is artist…no hesitation or question and you can’t live unless you paint, good luck! But know this provided you can have a positive aditude about life in general things will work out right for your situation.

I’ve also known artists that have started as Teachers and then stopped teaching to become full time artists. Well known artist Leslie Poole is one, Sculptor Henry Moore is another.

I am not making a living at either one while being supported by my dear husband. But I am having a grand time teaching art to preschoolers and pursuing my own painting career. I feel the two ventures invigorate each other and work nicely together. I didn’t know teaching was such a creative process or I would have pursued it earlier. But I found teaching a college course draining and it difficult to paint especially on the day of class.

Wendy Ximena Ordonez Hurtado, teaching art in high school may be one of the best investments in her life as an artist she may ever make. There are the usual benefits of a secure salary, medical insurance, and periodic vacations… and perhaps a pension at the end of her career. But that’s not the best part. The best part is that she will touch the lives of thousands of young adults in a positive way. I graduated from the University in art education in 1967. That was the year I began my art teaching career at South Medford High School. Not only was I was surrounded by enthusiastic teenagers eight hours a day… I was surrounded by a constant creative atmosphere, challenged to learn more, given opportunities to experiment with new art materials… basically, I was given the opportunity to learn and grow as an artist while I was guiding young people toward their artistic successes. My own art career grew and matured during those 30 years. In.1966 I retired to become a full time professional watercolorist. In the last fifteen years I have been a popular juror and workshop teacher the USA, and in many foreign countries. My paintings have received more than fifty national and regional awards… most recently at the 2010 American Watercolor Society in NYC. At a recent workshop one of my students asked a question that made me stop and think… “If you could name one thing you did to make your make your art better, what would it be?” My answer was simple… “I was a high school art teacher for thirty years.”

To teach or not to teach? That coincides in my mind with a more fundamental question-to eat or not to eat? I have been in exactly the same position. I chose eating and thus teaching. I married, raised a family of 5, taught for 21 years and retired to become what I always wanted to be-a full time painter. School reaching was exciting before the repetition of lessons, problems of students, and lack of support from the administration took all the joy away. I taught different levels and at different schools. After 21 years of teaching I finally retired to a lifetime of painting. Now my days are filled with the excitement and joy of creation. Painting is my life and I love it. My only regret is that I had to wait so many years to have the quality time to spend in my studio. My advice to the young painter is to take the teaching position for now and hold onto the dream of developing as a painter. Paint at night, on weekends and during vacations. Some later day your ship will come in and painting can become your life.

For Wendy I would say that it is true that being “an artist” is an “all in” game if it is your profession and you expect it to provide a living for you. However, there are no guarantees, even if you’re exceptional and work really hard. I have had the opportunity to be an art teacher and now to be a full time artist. It is true that if you are a good teacher you will not be able to have enough energy left to really invest in your own painting, but there is a unique aspect to teaching schedules called summer break when you can devote yourself completely to your work. You will find this frustrating because you will just be getting somewhere when you have to stop and return to teaching. I gave myself the gift of going for a Masters degree in the summer at The Rhode Island School of Design thinking it would help me become a better teacher and it ended up making me a much more serious artist and I left teaching. The really great thing that can happen when you teach is that you can become a positive influence in other lives. Just this year after many years have gone by I have gotten two calls from former students thanking me for influencing their lives in a positive way. One is now an art teacher and the other has a very successful photography business which he attributes to a project I had him do in high school. So both choices can turn out great and you have a lot of years to do it all!

If you want to paint, you will. www.frankgordon.co.uk

Do both. Teaching art + making art are related, not foreign activities. They will feed off each other. Teachers get long, long holidays when you concentrate only on your own work. The freedom from poverty will buy creative juices + you will be able to paint what you want rather than redoing work that you know sells so you can pay bills. When I was younger we had a saying at art school, those who can paint, paint, those who can’t, teach. It’s simply not true.

Ahhhhh….When are you going to do another workshop on that boat? I want to join you!

When young, I also had dreams of being an independent artist doing my own thing and being wildly popular in the art world. However, my down to earth parents encouraged me to get my teaching degree “just in case”. As life happened, I married, accepted a teaching position, and taught high school for twenty years. During very difficult times of raising kids and experiencing the illness and death of my first husband, I found that faith in God, coupled with relationships with my students and fellow art teachers kept me not only sane, but optimistic. Working solo in a studio would have been disastrous. Teaching also forces one to determine not just the “how” of doing things, but the “why” of what’s going on in your mind. When verbalizing your thought processes it forces you to think logically and explain an intuitive process to another person. That in turn becomes internalized and reinforces to yourself what you have taught. Then again, that enlarges your thought processes into other areas as to “how” and “why”. It expands in ever increasing ripples. I believe teaching is a necessary process by which you not only instruct others, but yourself. I am currently retired and devote time to my dreams, but I have found the years in the classroom have enriched and enabled those dreams.

‘A place of no regrets’…. what a beautiful phrase. Perhaps you are a poet too, as well as a painter. Just turning it over and over in my mind, like a mantra, seems to have a restful effect. Thank you for a thought-provoking letter and a great tagline!

to Bezalel-Levy, I tried getting to your site: www.standwoodhouse.com and couldn’t get it through 2 browsers. Any ideas? Would love to see your contributions to community there! Mary

Alas, 9 + 4 must not equal 13 and 2 + 5 must not equal 7 as none of my posts get anywhere except constant messages to re-enter the answer and submit the comment. If this one gets through, I’ll wonder if I’m doomed to always be Anonymous.

Robert, I love this quote: “Contrary to popular belief, all evolving artists are in a full time battle with mediocrity.” ~Robert Genn This is how I feel every single day, and this is why I am working so hard to get myself up and running with my art. I take one more risk at every opportunity, all in the interest of winning that battle! Cheers!

If I take a long time to write a post and then type in the number it tends not to go through…I don’t know why. But, if I type in the number first, then write my response it seems to work…again, I don’t know why. Hope that helps.

Dear Wendy, Given your situation, you are asking a wrong crowd for advice. Few people touched on this – but the key to your decision is that you are planning to get married and have children – so I assume that you would not have a happy life if you don’t manage to be a good mother and wife (in addition to your being good artist). So don’t ask artists and teachers for an advice what you should do. Ask children and husbands of artists and teachers. They will tell you how they experience their mothers and wives. Don’t ask the guy who is selling the car – ask the other drivers.