Take an Art Class to Boost Your Non-Art Career (Bonus Points for Techies!) - Page 2
2. You’re not trying to be the next Picasso
If you take an art class as a professional in a non-creative field, it won't be the end of the world if your work isn’t featured at every gallery in the city. However, you will need to demonstrate that you can apply the techniques learned in class. You will spend a considerable amount of time and effort completing these art assignments which is just enough to make the feedback you receive resonate but won’t make you feel like you’re going to lose your job because of it. After all, it’s just papier-mâché!
3. Communication workshops with simulations and role-play are really lame
Communication takes practice just like any other skill. The problem is that there aren’t a lot of opportunities to do so. It’s unlikely that you will ever try out a new way to communicate with a problem co-worker out of fear of making things worse. Has your work ever sent you to a management or communication skills seminar? These sessions are designed to help participants explore different communication techniques. The intentions are good but the simulations and role-play exercises just make people feel silly and participants’ behavior often remains unchanged. What these workshops are lacking is a dose of reality. Providing or receiving a critique on your work in art class gives just enough reality to the situation without making it too personal.
Photo Credit: "Artists Paint Palette" by ChrisAt from iStockphoto.
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