Last year, I took a step into something new — teaching demos, workshops, and classes. I started small with an underpainting workshop alongside two fellow artists, then moved into teaching a class for LifeQuest of Arkansas. More recently, I was invited to give a demo followed by a mini workshop for the Ozark Pastel Society. Finally, next week I will do a demo for the Arkansas Pastel Society.

What I’ve discovered is that I absolutely love this new role. There’s a unique thrill in watching students explore, experiment, and create — seeing the sparks of discovery, the breakthroughs, and the joy on their faces when something clicks. Sharing ideas side by side, swapping stories, and learning new approaches live and up close creates an energy that just can’t be replicated through a screen. And it’s never one-sided. While students learn from me, I learn just as much from them. It’s a true win-win.

In each of my classes, I introduced techniques that many of the artists had never been exposed to – like my “rusty truck” process. They were brave in their experimentation, diving in wit curiosity and a willingness to try something news. More than once, they surprised themselves with restuls they never though possible. Of cours, there were also moments of frustration, but those frustrations created breakthroughs toward growth.

Teaching has become more than just a new experience for me; it’s a way to share the joy of art, to learn alongside others, and to celebrate the magic that happens when creativity is explored together.

One of the biggest honors came when I attended the Ozark Pastel Society non-juried art show and saw paintings by three of my workshop students on display. To witness their courage in putting their work out into the world — and knowing I had played a small part in their creative journey — was incredibly rewarding.