The benefits of art workshops
Why should we, as artists and makers, spend our time going to workshops? That’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. Not in a forced, hustle kind of way... but in that “what actually helps us grow” kind of way. Workshops can be one of those things. Whether you’re newer to making or have been at it for decades, there’s something valuable about being in a space where the whole goal is learning, exploring, and making alongside other people. You get out of your usual zone. You look at things a little differently. You pick up something unexpected.
One thing that’s changed in the past few years is how many workshop options are now online. I’ll be honest... I love this. Not just for the convenience but because sometimes the timing or distance would have made a great workshop a no-go in the past. I work weird hours. I know a lot of you do too. Having access to workshops you can do from your kitchen table or studio corner (at your own pace or across time zones) is something I’m really grateful for. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still love an on ground one too. There’s something about seeing what other people are working on in real time... the vibe of it... the energy in the room when someone has a creative breakthrough or even just laughs at themselves while trying something completely new.
The real gift of workshops isn’t just the technique part, though that’s a bonus. It’s that you get to stretch. You get to remember what it’s like to be a beginner at something again, even if you’re seasoned in your field. That can be uncomfortable but also grounding. It reminds you that growth comes from trying... not from knowing everything. When someone else shows a way of working that’s totally outside your process, you don’t have to adopt it, but it opens something up. It shifts your perspective just enough to keep things interesting in your own practice.
And then there’s feedback. Not the formal “everyone’s staring at my work on the wall” kind necessarily, but the smaller moments... someone walking by your table and saying, “Oh I love how you handled that texture,” or an instructor suggesting a tweak that makes your piece click. We don’t always get those kinds of insights when we’re working solo. Having other eyes on your work, especially ones that come with encouragement or clarity, can help you see what’s actually happening in the piece you’ve been staring at too long. It’s not about perfection, it’s about awareness. And getting a little nudge in a new direction sometimes helps things finally land.
Depending on the type of workshop, you might also end up talking about your art business. Pricing. Selling. What platforms are working. How to write a better artist bio. The stuff that sometimes feels like a mystery or chore until someone breaks it down in a way that makes sense. I’ve had side conversations at workshops that gave me better insights than some of the formal professional development sessions I’ve been to. There’s real value in talking to other artists who are figuring it out just like you are.
Workshops also remind you you’re not doing this alone. Even if everyone’s working in a different medium or has different goals, there’s a kind of camaraderie that forms. I’ve met some of my favorite people through workshops. Sometimes we stayed in touch and worked on projects later. Other times, it was a good memory and a shared afternoon of trying to figure out a printing press or mixing the perfect shade of green. Either way, those connections matter. It’s easy to feel isolated as an artist, especially if you’re working from home or doing the solo studio thing most of the time. Getting in a room (or even a Zoom room) with other artists can reset that.
There’s also something about giving yourself permission to experiment in a space where that’s literally the point. You’re not supposed to get it perfect. You’re just supposed to try. That alone can unlock a lot. You might leave with something you’re proud of... or you might leave with a hot mess that taught you three new things about your own preferences. Both are wins in my book.
And then, yes, sometimes it’s about going back to the basics. Color, composition, perspective... these aren’t things you learn once and master forever. They evolve with you. Revisiting foundational ideas in a new setting or with a new teacher can help you approach your work with more clarity or even rethink something you’d taken for granted. That kind of sharpening... that return to craft... is part of staying engaged in the long haul.
So if you’ve been wondering whether to sign up for that class or take that workshop you bookmarked six times... consider this your nudge. It doesn’t have to change your whole practice. It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it might open something up. It might bring someone new into your creative orbit. It might help you remember why you started this whole art thing in the first place.
If you’ve taken a workshop recently and it sparked something (or even if it flopped but left you with a good story!) I’d love to hear about it. Leave a note in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going.