Navigating the Art of Learning

With so many online courses just a click away, all promising to teach me new skills and perspectives, I've happily piled up a hefty stack of stuff to learn. But now, my "to-complete" list looks more daunting than my art projects. 

The real challenge isn't just ticking these courses off my list; it's about soaking up all this knowledge and pouring it into my art without turning into the ultimate paradox—an over-educated under-achiever! 

Here's my take on mastering the art of learning in a way that boosts my creativity instead of bogging it down:

Prioritize Learning Goals

With so many courses out there, figuring out what to focus on first has become my first step. I take a little time to see how each course lines up with what I'm aiming to achieve artistically at the moment. Basically, I'm asking, "Is this course going to make my art better right now or pretty soon?" If it's a yes,  it moves up the list.

Set a Learning Schedule

Setting aside specific times for learning really helps me keep a good balance between education and creation. I block out certain hours or days just for hitting the books, leaving the rest of my time free for hands-on art practice. This way, I make sure all that learning doesn’t eat up the precious time I need to actually create stuff.

Implement as You Learn

The real magic happens when you start implementing things. After completing a course or a module, I immediately look for ways to incorporate these new techniques or ideas into my art. This "learn by doing" approach really cements my new skills and helps me avoid getting trapped in that endless learning loop.

Realizing that learning never stops has been liberating. It means I don’t have to rush to know everything all at once, and I don’t need to finish every single course to feel 'qualified' to create. This change in perspective has helped me pick what I learn more wisely and really concentrate on using what I already know.

Reflect on Progress

Taking some time to reflect on how my art has changed thanks to these courses really keeps me going. It's pretty easy to overlook just how much we've learned and grown when we're constantly on the lookout for the next thing to learn. Pausing to look back at past work and seeing how much I've learned not only shows me how valuable they've been for me but also helps me figure out what I want to learn next.

Know When to Step Back

Have you ever caught yourself thinking you were busy learning, but really you're just procrastinating? It's so easy to trick yourself into thinking you're being productive and fall into the "just one more course" trap. Sometimes, you just need to pause and ask yourself, "Am I taking these courses to avoid the actual work of creating?" A bit of honest self-reflection helps me to figure out when it's time for me to hit the pause button on learning and start actually creating.

Share Your Knowledge

One of the best parts about learning is getting to share all the cool stuff you've learned with others. Whether it’s teaching, working together, or just chatting about ideas with fellow artists, sharing doesn’t just help to understand things better.  It also builds a sense of community and helps us all grow together.

Navigating the art of learning while dedicating a year to creating art has been quite the journey. But, by figuring out what's most important, planning my time, actually doing the work, thinking about how it's going, and knowing when to take a step back, I'm hoping to find that sweet spot. It's still an on-going struggle for me, but I'm hoping I can better grow as an artist without drowning in information. The main thing to remember is that all this learning should make our creative expression better, not get in the way. 

Here's to being lifelong learners and creators, always changing and improving our craft!

https://www.nicoletoerber.art/home