what is a safe space?
"I Can't Draw" drawing workshop is ready for you
I’ve been reading a lot about teens making art,
trans teens making art, teens needing safe spaces, trans adults making friends, and variations this theme. I don’t seek out books along a theme, but I do notice recurring themes in what I am reading. I have a therapist who can work this out with me but I share this with you because, depending on your identity, things might not feel very safe right now.
Whether the threats are real, or if the threats to others causes empathetic alarm, we need spaces where we can relax, and be free.
Drawing classes won’t save the world but they might make you better equipped for it.
It might sound like I am putting too much on these little classes I teach, but I do believe that learning a creative skill, when you think you can’t opens you up, helps you become a more adaptable person. In my classes, I emphasize process over end product. In my drawing classes, I did not provide erasers, becuase I want you to embrace “mistakes”. I want you to try things, be weird, and make make make.
As an instructor, I lean into encouragement, shared knowledge, discovery. I don’t know everything. I have some ideas. I know a few tricks. I am an exellent cheerleader.
When I was in yoga teacher training, I was dismayed by the expectation that yoga teachers might touch you in class, without asking. I experienced vertigo often and had to adjust poses when I felt dizzy. I had one wonderful teacher who encouraged me in my choices in class. And a number of teachers who were upset, annoyed, or frustrated. It felt terrible. When I began teaching, I looked for ways to offer choices. Initially, as a new teacher, it may cause a little confusion for me when a student does something other than what I instruct. But as long as others can still do what they need, there is no harm. A minor distraction at best.
When I began teaching art, I wanted to incorporate the same sense of choice into my classes.
Consent breeds safety. Choice, autonomy, and encouragement allows for students to lower their defenses and create.
I only teach adults and mostly online at this point, but I want to bring the same environment. It is a little trickier online, but my students seem to get it, according to the feedback I receive after my classes.
I am very aware that if I was teaching art in a public high school, my definition of “safe space” would be very different. I’ve considered teaching college students. I’ll get back to you if that happens. It is incredibly privileged to talk about a safe space in terms of feeling safe to create, because your basic needs and physical safety is assured.
It feels like the smallest thing sometimes, to watch someone get excited about drawing, or become less frustrated with themselves in their creative practice. But I’m here for it.
This five week drawing workshop starts 10/19.
We will explore mark making and drawing in many styles. We will talk about color and what makes an interesting drawing and learn a little about how to draw from life.
Optional homework, a second meeting time every week just for drawing, a guest speaker, and lots of fun.
$440 with payment plans and solidarity discounts
Let’s do this.
I teach 2-4 classes per month, including a pay-what-you-can class (next one is in November and will be a writing class!) You can browse all my classes at hopeamico.com/classes.
what I’ve been reading
since I mentioned it:
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman: The author of Heartstopper writes about teens with awful parents making beautiful art and the people who love them. It was slow in the middle but I am glad I stuck with it.
Woodworking by Emily St.James: A trans woman befriends a trans teen, whose snark and self awareness carry this through the awkward parts as a small community struggles to take care of each other, however imperfectly.
Whispers Under the Door by TJ Klune : This is my second go around with this, I listen to 10 minutes of it every night while falling asleep which is almost like a bedtime story.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: Trans Latinx teen magic and Dio de los Muertos. I’ve just started it, but its a light-ish seasonal read so far.
small bites
and now for some good news
portland scene report
A few friends have checked in and I want to say that so far, National Guard troops have prevented from being dispatched to Portland because of legal injunctions. There are more helicopters, and folks are showing up to protest the presence of ICE, and to demand an end to the 2 year genocide in Gaza. It makes me wonder if the news is showing a photo of the city on fire, rather than the naked bike ride protests. The news is always just a sliver of what is happening.
That said, if you are worried about this happening in your city, it might be a good time to connect with others and organizations already working to protect your neighbors. Last weekend I sold a bunch of my extra art supplies and raised $300 for the Portland Immigrant Refugee Coalition who supports the immigrant community here by showing up at ICE raids to provide legal observers and immediate support, along with sharing information about immigrants’ rights and resources.
The news is a lot. It can feel hopeless. But even small steps are something. Raise money, volunteer, show up, make calls, whatever you can do.
I appreciate you reading this, sharing it, laughing at my dumb jokes, and most surprisingly, reading to the end.
take care of each other, okay?
Hope
