Twisted Tuesdays - Teacher Turned Student

This isn't going to be the usual Twisted Tuesday style post. I am not sharing any behind-the-scenes info from Totally Twisted or new jewelry or new beads. Ya know, I am finding myself venturing off topic a lot on Twisted Tuesday, but I am really really okay with that. Life can be rather twisted at times... so as long as there is good content, I am going to keep calling it Twisted Tuesdays.

Today's twist is where I tell you about the ways I am finding myself turning from Teacher to Student. We have talked a few times over the past year or so about the ways in which I am making more of an effort to listen to whispers my heart is telling me (something prompted by Kelly Rae Roberts's book, Taking Flight). You might remember that I had been wanting to take up running again, and I did it last summer! I am also doing simpler things like taking some of the pressure off that I put on myself to be constantly doing something. So, a nap under the maple tree in the back yard on Sunday afternoon was had, and it felt wonderful.

A whisper that has been growing for a while now has finally risen to a shout and I need to follow it. I want to *learn*. I always loved school, even though socially it was extremely difficult for me. The pencil and paper aspect of learning new things was, and still is, something that gets me all a flutter. I love to read, to experiment, to take notes, and draw conclusions. Going back-to-school though isn't something in the cards though, and even if it was, it isn't the kind of education I am actually drawn to now. The type of classes that get most excited these days are "e-courses". It started, who-knows how long ago, from the many, many, many art blogs that I follow. Countless (okay, maybe not countless, I just don't feel like actually counting) artists have started sharing their knowledge and experiences in online workshops. They are relatively inexpensive, their topics are as varied as their creators, and I think, I hope, they can truly inspire.

So, I have gone back and forth... what kind of e-course do I want to take? This summer I have signed up for two. The first is for the month of June, it is Flying Lessons with Kelly Rae Roberts. You may have noticed the badge I added for it on the sidebar over there. At first glance, you might think "Kerry, you already have a successful creative business, what do you need that course for?" Well, I will tell you... 1) I love Kelly, and I wish we were friends, so there is a stalker level to my wanting to take her class, LOL. 2) I have been able to make my bead business soar, now I want to do it for my mixed media art as well. 3) I am eager to learn more about licensing too. (I don't know that it is something I would ever do, but it intrigues me.) The course started over the weekend and I must say, two days in and it already has me thinking about so much. I have a journal devoted just to this and I am finding it so helpful to get my thoughts and feelings out.

The second course I signed up for just today. I have been really wanting to take a photography course. I missed the sign ups for one in particular that I really really want to take, but I know this one will be a great starting point and a fun adventure for summer. I enrolled in Picture Summer with Tracey Clark. It is a 30-day photo project and I am so excited and ready to be inspired by it. I have this freaking stinking awesome camera and I feel like I am only scratched the surface of what it can do. Now, granted, this class isn't going to teach me to use it, but it will get me off my butt to use my camera more. With practice comes expertise, no? I toyed with the idea for a few minutes that I might take July off from blogging and just do a photo a day to coincide with the project. HA! Me not run my motor-mouth for a whole month, who am I kidding?

So there ya go. The teacher in me is becoming a student and I am taking some summer e-courses. What plans do you have set for the new season?