Tuesday:) Teaching Is The Art Of Sharing

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” 

― William Arthur Ward

*******************

I had another wine glass painting class at Lone Star Wine Cellars this evening. It’s always exciting to see the proud smiles when each is finished with their masterpiece. I am especially happy when I teach them new techniques and give them a few tips and tricks of the trade.

My first tip was, “Do not rinse out your paint brush in your wine glass.” It has been know to happen. I start out with a large demonstration on an easel with a very large flat brush, teaching one stroke double loading techniques. The ladies did a variety of bluebonnets, daisies, Queen Anne’s lace, and experimented with other ideas.

  
   
    
   
They did a great job, don’t you think? 

I hope that I inspired them to try painting another time.
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” 

― William Arthur Ward

Tuesday:) Time To Teach A Painting Class

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” 
― William Arthur Ward

*******************

Well, the crazy tooth, or rather, lack of my tooth, is doing better. I still can’t eat solids, the gum is sore around the gaping cavern where the implant will go, and it looks pretty disgusting in there. The good news, you may ask? Subsisting on smoothies and shakes since Thursday, I actually lost a few of those lurking winter pounds. 

I managed to get to Zumba this morning and went for a long brisk walk in the afternoon. Then, I gathered up my supplies, paints, brushes, examples, and wine glasses for my painting class I was teaching at Lone Star Wine Cellars. It’s a great location, right on the square. A quaint wine bar with the friendliest people. 

  
   
 
Some of the ladies had taken some classes previously, but a couple who never painted before, were amazed at their final wine glasses. I sure love to teach and share with others.  Anyone can learn a new technique, you just need a good teacher. (That would be me.) 

I told, explained, demonstrated and inspired…I had it covered. 

(Examples of some of my painting.)

    
 

Tuesday:) Teaching Your Talent

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.
~Margaret Fuller
 *************

Give me a few hours and I could teach anyone how to paint. I’m not a great artist, but I’m a fantastic teacher.

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

*************

Last night I had the pleasure of teaching a wine glass painting class at Lone Star Wine Cellars on the square. “It was a dark and stormy night.” A little writer’s humor, but it was raining pretty hard and several people didn’t make it to the class, but six brave souls ventured out. It’s always fun to share my painting techniques with strangers. You know why? They think I’m wonderful. And you know what? I am! Ha ha! But it’s true.

   
    
   
Didn’t they do a great job? I forgot to get a picture of the glasses that one lady did because she left early. She said she couldn’t paint and she had no delusions of making anything worthwhile. She left with a big smile and two gorgeous glasses. I LOVE TEACHING!

  
I get so much and I learn so much, all the time. 

 

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.Benjamin Franklin

***************

Last night was my fun painting on wine glass class. I was well prepared, hauled bags and bins of wine glasses, paints, and probably 50 or more painted examples for inspiration. After a short demonstration of one- stroke painting of roses, bluebonnets, trees, leaves, etc., it was time to practice a while on paper , then  ” boldly go ” onto the wine glasses. A few ladies even practiced on empty wine bottles first. (We were at Lone Star Wine Cellars. Plenty of empty bottles)

What I love about teaching this way is, everyone practices, experiments, loses that initial fear of painting, then they create something wonderful and totally unique. No two were alike. 

I always say, “I ‘m not a great artist , but I sure am a great teacher.”

   
    
    
    
   

Wednesday Web

Oh what a Zentangled web we weave, when first we practice to…Zentangle. If you haven’t heard of Zentangle, don’t feel bad, most people, especially non-art people haven’t either. To sum it up, Zentangle is glorified doodling. No special talent or fancy tools are required. The only things required to get started are a fine line permanent marker, paper, an open mind and a little time. There are many websites, blogs, books and videos available to help you along the way if you want to get more involved, but it’s not necessary.

Today, the lovely TOTS, Table Of Talent Sisters met for a Zentangle mini-workshop guided by our girlfriend, Sherry. She gave us a few pointers, passed around a book and some sample pages, and after a couple hours, we were all “Zen masters.” Shapes, repetitive lines and patterns became beautiful works of art. If you like to doodle, look into it. You’ll love it!

Here’s my first attempt.

This is Sherry, our talented instructor and girlfriend.

Can You Learn From Your Children?

They say the best way to influence your children is to teach them by example. But, what if children are trying to teach their parents by example?

I always tried to be a good example to my two sons. I like to think that both my husband and I are kind, generous, and all around good people. My sons have turned out to be genuinely wonderful men, and yes, I’m prejudiced, but I think everyone would agree.

Here is where the table have been turned. Both my sons are vegans, and have been for quite a while. Where did I go wrong? They eat mostly fresh fruit and vegetables, and very rarely eat junk food. This means no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy. Basically, it must come from the dirt to the table. This from the little boys who begged to have hot dogs or burgers everyday if they couldn’t go to McDonalds.

I have been scolded and schooled on the evils of meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, etc. “Mom, do you know how they treat and butcher those animals?” I’ve been given many Christmas gifts of books and DVDs on the subject. Their well-meaning gestures and pressures have influenced me somewhat, but my bad habits and taste buds are not completely convinced. Sometimes it’s a good thing that they live hundreds of miles away so they can’t check up on me all the time.

All their advice is sound and reasonable, but I can’t do it all cold turkey. I drink almond milk, gave up soda (most of the time), basically no desserts (unless it’s my birthday, or someone else’s birthday, or the girl scouts are selling cookies), I’ve cut back on meat consumption. As my mother-in-law used to say, “Better like nothing.”

Thank you, boys, for trying to lead by example. Maybe if you lived a little closer and visited more often, you could be better role models. Hint..hint!