intro class anxiety and how to fight it.
Anxiety about an intro class is incredibly normal, I have had a lot of people tell me that they made themselves sick thinking about coming to a class. Taking an introductory to anything class can be scary. Trying new things, things that you might not be good at, is really hard. Even so, these students always walk away with a smile and new found artistic confidence. But how do we get there? How do we push past our anxieties and try these new things? We know it’s good to have new experiences, it makes us feel alive, but it’s not always that easy. Here are my tips for lowering your pre art class anxieties to get you in the door and walking away smiling.
Remember that no one will be good at this right away.
There’s a perception around art that you should just be good at it, it’s a natural talent that you either have or don’t. This is patently false. I cannot count the number of times that someone has told me “I can’t take a drawing class, I don’t know how to draw.”. You literally would not say that about anything else. No one says “I can’t take a spanish class, I don’t know how to speak spanish.” Spanish class is where you learn to speak spanish! It’s the exact same thing with an art class; no one expects you to be good at it immediately. Especially if you’re taking an introductory class, everyone is starting at the same level. You don’t have to be good at anything the first time you try it, it’s okay.
Bring a friend
Trying new things with someone else is always less scary, and more fun! You can hype each other up, laugh together about your mistakes, and celebrate each other's wins. It’s also harder to back out last minute if you have someone coming along with you. If this isn’t an option for you, whether your friends aren’t so adventurous or you’ve just moved to a new city, remember that art classes are a great place to make friends. Everyone in that class is in the same boat as you, and there are most likely going to be other people there looking to make friends.
Watch some tutorials
Educate yourself about the medium you’re going to be learning about beforehand by watching youtube videos and reading blogs. Of course you’re going to the class to learn, but sometimes knowing a little bit about what you’ll be doing will calm your nerves. Your instructor may teach different methods and techniques than what you learn online, but this creates a great opportunity for discussion about art techniques.
Visit the art studio or speak with the instructor
If possible, seeing the space that your class will be in and/or speaking to the instructor can really help soothe anxieties. Knowing what the space is like takes away one of the unknown variables of the new experience. Speaking with the instructor gives you a chance to ask any questions that you may have, and will show you that the artist doesn’t bite. If you have any physical or learning disabilities, this is also a great opportunity to make sure that necessary accommodations can be made and that your needs will be met.
Most of all, remember that this is supposed to be fun. Growth always comes with at least a little bit of discomfort, but the benefits far outweigh that. Keep these things in mind and you’ll be walking out of that class with a smile on your face in no time.
