I’m going to keep this pretty simple, I thought I would write a short post of my top 5 reasons why coaching can be useful and beneficial.
Support
Art coaching can support us so we don’t feel alone or isolated, struggling without help. Even when the work is going well sometimes we can feel this way. A reality of artistic life is that artists can often spend large amounts of time on their own. Plus a common pattern for many people in general is not to ask for help. So, having regular time where support is focused on your goals and aspirations can be really useful in making progress. And, as we are supported we are no longer on our own.
Objective Feedback
Part of how I see the role of an art coach is to provide objective feedback . Sometimes we need someone who is not connected to us in the way that friends, colleagues or family may be, to give us feedback. Art coaching can offer feedback. That can be on patterns and behaviours we are doing. It can also be on things we are not doing. Of course this may not always be entirely comfortable, and it can be very useful to have our habits, perceptions and areas of development highlighted. What is key about this kind of art coaching feedback is that it is given with empathy and support and in the service of supporting the artist being coached, in meeting their goals.
We might not have all the information
Sometimes we might not have all the information, experience or there may be gaps in our skill set. This might be information around techniques, use of materials, artistic or creative processes. It might be about aspects of business. How to make use of social media for example, the best way to approach an art gallery. Or it might be about psychology – why we feel dissatisfied with our work, struggling to find our voice or anxious about what others might think of our work.
Another person who has travelled the path before us may have information that is useful to us, Art coaching can point us in the direction of resources we were not aware of. An artistic coach may have knowledge and skills we can draw on. Or be able to help us recognise where self-limiting beliefs are hampering our success.
Critique and Evaluation
An art coach can support to help us see our strengths and discover our learning edges. Too often we can be self critical which is not useful in evaluating work and deciding what to do next (see my post on the inner critic). Having someone alongside us to help with critique rather than criticism can help in the process of learning, exploring and finding our voice.
Coaching has an element of expertise about psychological goal setting and how to achieve our aims. Having access to theory about human nature can help us understand ourselves better, have a more effective relationship with ourselves so get what we need for ourselves.
My approach to art coaching is based in Transactional Analysis. I have been working with people in the field of personal development for over 15 years. Sessions can be online or at my office in Buxton.
Interested in finding out more? Book in for a free 20 minute chemistry chat. A chance to find out about each other and whether we might work together.