Comments on: Teaching and Structures #77 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html Images and writing about my abstract contemporary textile art by Lisa Call. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:32:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12684 Lisa Call Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:15:52 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12684 Kiandra - thank you for the confirming comment! Cynthia - as I've been reconnecting with many old friend from graduate school on linkedin.com I've been looking at their successes a bit and being a bit jealous. But I do love the path I have chosen so only just a little bit. Kiandra - thank you for the confirming comment!

Cynthia - as I’ve been reconnecting with many old friend from graduate school on linkedin.com I’ve been looking at their successes a bit and being a bit jealous. But I do love the path I have chosen so only just a little bit.

]]> By: cynthia http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12621 cynthia Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:53:00 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12621 I sometimes regret dropping out of grad school - though I definitely didn't have as much time invested as you - but then my life would be different. We would be juggling our daughter and her schedule (and most likely arguing about it) and I would be working 60+ hours a week. I just saw a little notice in the post that 3 women who were a year ahead of me in the program just got hired with Design Workshop downdown - one of the best Landscape Arch firms in Denver, and definitely nationally known. I was a little jealous... But, my life is what it is and so is yours. Somehow I just know that you will find the path. Teaching, writing (could be another option), workshops, selling, patterns, kits - there's something there for all of us. I sometimes regret dropping out of grad school - though I definitely didn’t have as much time invested as you - but then my life would be different. We would be juggling our daughter and her schedule (and most likely arguing about it) and I would be working 60+ hours a week. I just saw a little notice in the post that 3 women who were a year ahead of me in the program just got hired with Design Workshop downdown - one of the best Landscape Arch firms in Denver, and definitely nationally known. I was a little jealous…

But, my life is what it is and so is yours. Somehow I just know that you will find the path. Teaching, writing (could be another option), workshops, selling, patterns, kits - there’s something there for all of us.

]]> By: Kiandra http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12597 Kiandra Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:40:53 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12597 Diane is right, this is such a wonderful post with great comments. It is so interresting and wonderful to learn more about your history...and your education. I think that this issue is the hard thing about the quilting arts, there isn't very many ways to make money besides selling one's work, or teaching in the national quilting circuit. Onless of course you land a nice gig as a show host. I don't think I would be interrested in being a national teacher myself any time soon (not that I'm qualified) with having two children. I plan to teach at the community rec. more so for some sanity for myself (I'm a stay at home mom), pass the craft along...and of course I figure it wouldn't hurt me as far as experience goes. I think that you have tons to offer to the quilting arts with your work, and its only a matter of time before you find yourself in the situation that you desire. Your work is really amazing and inspiring. I would definetly echo your sentiments of not teaching for "more income" it just simply isn't worth it, there isn't enough money if you don't want to do it, plus it would take away from your studio time. I think you are on the right track, continue as you are...and eventually something will break through. Diane is right, this is such a wonderful post with great comments. It is so interresting and wonderful to learn more about your history…and your education.

I think that this issue is the hard thing about the quilting arts, there isn’t very many ways to make money besides selling one’s work, or teaching in the national quilting circuit. Onless of course you land a nice gig as a show host. I don’t think I would be interrested in being a national teacher myself any time soon (not that I’m qualified) with having two children. I plan to teach at the community rec. more so for some sanity for myself (I’m a stay at home mom), pass the craft along…and of course I figure it wouldn’t hurt me as far as experience goes.

I think that you have tons to offer to the quilting arts with your work, and its only a matter of time before you find yourself in the situation that you desire. Your work is really amazing and inspiring.

I would definetly echo your sentiments of not teaching for “more income” it just simply isn’t worth it, there isn’t enough money if you don’t want to do it, plus it would take away from your studio time.

I think you are on the right track, continue as you are…and eventually something will break through.

]]> By: Diane Clancy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12591 Diane Clancy Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:29:08 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12591 This is a great post and great comments! First, I really enjoyed looking at this quilt - I agree if is a real success at having an organic feel - quite a feat with all these straight lines! It is fun to be able to see all the quilting lines so well. I think you are smart to be cautious - especially given you have children and a way to make money that is fairly lucrative. It doesn't sound like it would make your heart sing to be teaching without getting paid well. I think you could consider accepting a big gig for teaching that pays well if it were offered to you and you wanted to. But as your sales pick up, perhaps at some point you can go to part time. After all, especially with the children, the health coverage it crucial. I end up spending a lot of my time working with people on graphic design rather than painting. But my niche is working closely with people in the process - and I enjoy that a lot (usually). So it sure brings in more money so that I have something to live on. I always appreciate it when you share what you are thinking about. ~ Diane Clancy www.dianeclancy.com/blog This is a great post and great comments! First, I really enjoyed looking at this quilt - I agree if is a real success at having an organic feel - quite a feat with all these straight lines! It is fun to be able to see all the quilting lines so well.

I think you are smart to be cautious - especially given you have children and a way to make money that is fairly lucrative. It doesn’t sound like it would make your heart sing to be teaching without getting paid well. I think you could consider accepting a big gig for teaching that pays well if it were offered to you and you wanted to.

But as your sales pick up, perhaps at some point you can go to part time. After all, especially with the children, the health coverage it crucial.

I end up spending a lot of my time working with people on graphic design rather than painting. But my niche is working closely with people in the process - and I enjoy that a lot (usually). So it sure brings in more money so that I have something to live on.

I always appreciate it when you share what you are thinking about.

~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog

]]> By: Amy Munson http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12588 Amy Munson Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:57:48 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12588 So much of what you said struck a chord with me. As much as I would like to make a living with my art, it just wont happen right now. We just started our family and I have a job that I really enjoy and a great work environment. I have learned to take advantage of the down time when my son is napping to work on my art projects. I have started teaching a few classes in the region but limit them to only one or two per year. It would be very difficult for me to be away traveling and teaching every weekend. I dont know if I will ever take the plunge and be an artist full time. I see this time in my art life as building a body of work and finding my art voice. So much of what you said struck a chord with me. As much as I would like to make a living with my art, it just wont happen right now. We just started our family and I have a job that I really enjoy and a great work environment. I have learned to take advantage of the down time when my son is napping to work on my art projects. I have started teaching a few classes in the region but limit them to only one or two per year. It would be very difficult for me to be away traveling and teaching every weekend. I dont know if I will ever take the plunge and be an artist full time. I see this time in my art life as building a body of work and finding my art voice.

]]> By: Robin http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12585 Robin Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:52:12 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12585 Hi Lisa, Thanks for the story of your life. Do you know any quilt artist that has been able to support themselves in any other way than teaching? I often think of alternative paths too as living in the middle of the pacific makes teaching a little difficult. Have you tried getting your images out to interior decorators somehow? Seems to me your quilts are very good to decorate with as your palate is soothing. But I may be a little biased cause I like looking at your work! What ever the case, you are doing an amazing job and I've enjoyed following your journey. Thank you for sharing! Hi Lisa, Thanks for the story of your life. Do you know any quilt artist that has been able to support themselves in any other way than teaching? I often think of alternative paths too as living in the middle of the pacific makes teaching a little difficult. Have you tried getting your images out to interior decorators somehow? Seems to me your quilts are very good to decorate with as your palate is soothing. But I may be a little biased cause I like looking at your work! What ever the case, you are doing an amazing job and I’ve enjoyed following your journey. Thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12581 Lisa Call Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:43:44 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12581 Hey Susie - Thank you for your suggestions. I've thought of the consulting path and it just isn't for me. I do understand about teaching outside of the quilt shop world and there are a lot of advantages. But honestly - I hope to avoid the quilt teaching world for now. At this point it would just be another job and if things go well I will be able to walk away from all of that at some point (more later in an upcoming post). Daniel - great story - thanks for sharing. When things aren't right for us we know it and shouldn't do them. Hey Susie - Thank you for your suggestions. I’ve thought of the consulting path and it just isn’t for me. I do understand about teaching outside of the quilt shop world and there are a lot of advantages. But honestly - I hope to avoid the quilt teaching world for now. At this point it would just be another job and if things go well I will be able to walk away from all of that at some point (more later in an upcoming post).

Daniel - great story - thanks for sharing. When things aren’t right for us we know it and shouldn’t do them.

]]> By: Daniel Sroka http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12578 Daniel Sroka Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:38:15 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12578 Your story reminds me of one from my life. In college, I studied cognitive science and linguistics, and like you, was looking at going to grad school as a way to avoid looking for a job. I lived near one of the best linguistics programs, and had taken several classes in their masters program, so I thought it would be a good idea. But while getting the application, I casually asked the secretary what one does with a linguistics masters. She looked at me, blinked, and said "why, teach linguistics, of course." When I balked at this idea, which bored me to tears, she kindly said "if you don't want what the program gives, don't join the program". This has probably been some of the best advice in my life. I didn't join the program, found work in the graphic arts instead, and a new, more fun career started. Your story reminds me of one from my life. In college, I studied cognitive science and linguistics, and like you, was looking at going to grad school as a way to avoid looking for a job. I lived near one of the best linguistics programs, and had taken several classes in their masters program, so I thought it would be a good idea. But while getting the application, I casually asked the secretary what one does with a linguistics masters. She looked at me, blinked, and said “why, teach linguistics, of course.” When I balked at this idea, which bored me to tears, she kindly said “if you don’t want what the program gives, don’t join the program”. This has probably been some of the best advice in my life. I didn’t join the program, found work in the graphic arts instead, and a new, more fun career started.

]]> By: Susie Monday http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12575 Susie Monday Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:57:02 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12575 Lisa -- I agree that its really tough to give up the security of a regular paycheck, but with your computer skills you might consider consulting. Yes, its riskier than a steady job, and at times your time will be just as eaten up with out-of-the-studio work. However, if you work on a business plan (and I know you know how to do that!) for consulting AND for teaching (more on that later), I suspect you can work out the finances and keep a measure of security for you and your family. What concerns me is that you keep sounding the regret of the time you spend at the "job." At age 50, about 10 years ago, I realized that if I didn't stop working full time for other people, I would never do my own work. I admit, I don't have anyone depending on me for their survival, but it was still a big step. I have never regreted it and always found a way to make ends meet and keep a IRA funded. As to teaching, there is a BIG difference between teaching at a quilt store and teaching in other venues. You may want to develop your curriculum and approach in such a setting, but you can make decent money teaching at conferences, major craft centers, the larger guilds and, if you find the right way to make the finances work, in a teaching studio of your own, perhaps shared with others. (TThat's ideal, because you have the ease of preparation, you own the venue, you schedule it yourself.) I am now teaching about once a month in my own studio, and while I still charge pretty nominal fees, I thinnk I will be able to raise them soon. Even at my fees now, I can cover my living expenses for a couple of weeks with one workshop) Big quilt tieaching events now pay as much as $1000 a day to faculty (more for the "big names") and $750 a day is not unusual. And you can produce supply kits and sell them with a small profit too. No, its not attorney fees, probably not even programmer fees, but don't think what the local quilt store offers is all you can make-- especially with your reputation, your in-place reputation on this blog, and your exquisite work. And, as I said before, the work I sell is mostly to those who have taken my classes. Just something to think about. Lisa — I agree that its really tough to give up the security of a regular paycheck, but with your computer skills you might consider consulting. Yes, its riskier than a steady job, and at times your time will be just as eaten up with out-of-the-studio work. However, if you work on a business plan (and I know you know how to do that!) for consulting AND for teaching (more on that later), I suspect you can work out the finances and keep a measure of security for you and your family. What concerns me is that you keep sounding the regret of the time you spend at the “job.”

At age 50, about 10 years ago, I realized that if I didn’t stop working full time for other people, I would never do my own work. I admit, I don’t have anyone depending on me for their survival, but it was still a big step. I have never regreted it and always found a way to make ends meet and keep a IRA funded.

As to teaching, there is a BIG difference between teaching at a quilt store and teaching in other venues. You may want to develop your curriculum and approach in such a setting, but you can make decent money teaching at conferences, major craft centers, the larger guilds and, if you find the right way to make the finances work, in a teaching studio of your own, perhaps shared with others. (TThat’s ideal, because you have the ease of preparation, you own the venue, you schedule it yourself.) I am now teaching about once a month in my own studio, and while I still charge pretty nominal fees, I thinnk I will be able to raise them soon. Even at my fees now, I can cover my living expenses for a couple of weeks with one workshop) Big quilt tieaching events now pay as much as $1000 a day to faculty (more for the “big names”) and $750 a day is not unusual. And you can produce supply kits and sell them with a small profit too. No, its not attorney fees, probably not even programmer fees, but don’t think what the local quilt store offers is all you can make– especially with your reputation, your in-place reputation on this blog, and your exquisite work. And, as I said before, the work I sell is mostly to those who have taken my classes.

Just something to think about.

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12574 Lisa Call Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:59:05 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/07/teaching-and-structures-77.html#comment-12574 Patty - Thanks Patty. You are so right, as a single mom it's hard to give up the steady paycheck. Without kids in the picture there are more options but the committement to provide for them is strong. And I wish I could claim to be so smart as to have dumped the unsupportive husband sooner but it took another 9 years to stand up for myself and do it. Olga - I agaree, the computer skills are definitely a blessing and I am glad I have them. With them I can support myself very easily. But more importantly I am able to do my own computer support for my art - and I find it extremely helpful. Thanks for your input - as I work to sort out my future there are many things to think about. Paula - The quilt shops are just as bad about taking 50% and sometimes more of the class fee. The shops make a ton of money from the students buying supplies but they want the fees also. While I do love the teaching I'm just not willing to do it for $2 a hour. That's insulting. Patty - Thanks Patty. You are so right, as a single mom it’s hard to give up the steady paycheck. Without kids in the picture there are more options but the committement to provide for them is strong. And I wish I could claim to be so smart as to have dumped the unsupportive husband sooner but it took another 9 years to stand up for myself and do it.

Olga - I agaree, the computer skills are definitely a blessing and I am glad I have them. With them I can support myself very easily. But more importantly I am able to do my own computer support for my art - and I find it extremely helpful. Thanks for your input - as I work to sort out my future there are many things to think about.

Paula - The quilt shops are just as bad about taking 50% and sometimes more of the class fee. The shops make a ton of money from the students buying supplies but they want the fees also. While I do love the teaching I’m just not willing to do it for $2 a hour. That’s insulting.

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