Jed Dorsey launched into a full-time career as an artist a year ago. https://sunnyshorestudio.com/2016/06/30/jed-dorsey-pursuing-a-full-time-career-in-art/
In a recent interview, Sunnyshore Studio asked Jed about that first year, the role of art workshops in his development as an artist and his upcoming July workshop on Camano Island.
Sunnyshore Studio: Jed, tell us a little bit about your recent launch into art as a full time career. How is that going?
Jed: Fantastic! We are 10 months into full-time art and haven’t had to miss any meals or bills, so that’s encouraging! I have found that being a full-time artist is not for the fickle, however. You need to be all-in. Especially if you aren’t a dual income family. So, we are thrilled to be able to be doing this and are thankful for all the support we have received from people who have bought paintings.
Sunnyshore Studio: What role have workshops/classes had in your own development as an artist?
Jed: I frequently get asked where I studied art, and people are usually surprised when I say that I didn’t go to school for art. But I think it speaks to value of workshops, because I have taken 5 intensive workshops which have shaped me greatly as an artist. In fact, I took one just over a month ago, and it completely invigorated me and gave me fresh ideas. It also reminded of and reinforced all the instruction I’ve received before. There really hasn’t been anything else that has helped me develop more as an artist than the workshops I’ve taken.
Sunnyshore Studio: What do you hope your workshops do for other aspiring artists?
Jed: I really hope that my workshops encourage and inspire others. I want participants to walk away feeling good about where they are at and having confidence that they can continue to grow. I also want everyone to take away at least a few concrete ideas they can come back to again and again. That’s why it is always good to take notes as a student. I have gone back to my notes from previous workshops and found things I’ve forgotten in the months or years since, and those concrete ideas become guides for my thinking about my paintings.
Sunnyshore Studio: What do you enjoy about workshops?
Jed: I love seeing people enjoy creating and taking steps forward in their process. I always applaud people who are willing to take a workshop, because I think it takes both courage and humility, and those are amazing qualities. It takes humility because we have to admit that we need help. We aren’t the artist that we want to be yet. We need and want to learn (and hopefully that never changes!). But it also takes courage, because a workshop is public and other people will see our work. They will see us in process – working on things and trying to figure out how to improve. So, I greatly admire the students who come, and I gain a ton from our time together.
Sunnyshore Studio: What are things that make your workshops unique, special, relevant?
Jed: That is a good question, and it is probably better answered by a student because their opinion is the one that matters the most. But what I try to do with my workshops is to make them the best possible experience for each student. I want people to walk away knowing that they invested their time and money well, so Renae (my wife) and I both work hard trying to make each part of the workshop special, from the instruction to the location to the subject to having snacks available. I also always want the participants to feel like they made some good friends through our time together, so we try to think of ways to make our workshops comfortable and friendly for everyone.
Sunnyshore Studio: How much more space do you have for your July workshop? What is the cost for that?
Jed: We have 5 spots still, and the workshop is $300 for 4 days, July 11-14. I’m getting really excited for it as we get closer. We have at least one of our friends (who we met when she took a class this winter here in Indianapolis) who will be flying out and spending the week on Camano Island to take the workshop, and there might be another friend who will fly out for it also. So, that is exciting and fun for us!
You can sign up for Jed’s workshop here: http://www.jeddorseyart.com/workshops.html