Windfall Designs: Encouraging Creativity

Last week I taught two classes for kids ages 7 -13, in Cooperstown, NY at their Art Association. Every year I teach at least one class somewhere in the vicinity of where I live....once upon a time teaching much more regularly. Now, with most of my time spent working on my own designs & building my own business I have less time to teach. Or rather, I make less time to teach. But I really do love it.

I think creativity is vital to our well being, as humans. Just as exercise is to overall health, so is creativity. Even if it's not your main path in life, even if your career is in another field entirely, it will keep you balanced. However, when I teach, it's more often than not, to young kids. I love their ability to explore & play, their happiness in getting messy & using new tools. I love fostering that type of environment for them & hope that if I can make it fun.... than perhaps they'll hold onto that knowledge as they grow up and become adults.

Last week, the classes I held were a Collage/bookmaking class & also a Basic metalsmithing/Jewelry design class. Both went super well, especially the jewelry class, where I was worried slightly about the actual classroom layout & the fact that we were directly over the public library. We would be hammering for a couple hours straight, and I was concerned about the silent state of affairs below us. But it went great.