Summer is here, and with it comes the time-honored tradition of summer arts festivals. They usually involve a weekend full of food, entertainment, and most importantly, art. For art teachers, they can serve as a way to recharge, refresh, and get inspired.
Check out these 5 tips to make the most of your next summer arts festival.
1. Watch a Demonstration
One of the best things about arts festivals is the plethora of demonstrations that can be found throughout the weekend. You might be able to see some glass blowing, metal smithing, wheel throwing, sketching, portraiture, or even caricature artists at work. Stop and watch, stop and learn, or stop and just enjoy.
2. Talk to the Artists
Maybe you want to find out more about an artist’s technique or see how you could incorporate an idea into your classroom. Maybe you need to know something for your own personal art or just because you’re curious. Most of the artists you’ll find love to talk shop and love to talk about their work. Stop by the booth of an artist whose work you’ve been admiring and strike up a conversation.
3. Make Some Art!
Odds are, there will be an opportunity for you to create some art yourself after a demonstration or at a designated artmaking booth. It may be simple, but it also may be totally worth it. It’s always enjoyable to make some art, even if it’s outside the realm of what you normally do. Or, in lieu of that opportunity, bring along your sketchbook! There’s never a shortage of visual inspiration, especially when people watching!
