Am I being selfish?
I hope you’re all sitting quietly amid the remnants of Christmas and Hanukkah. I’m always glad to celebrate with my loved ones (and almost as glad to be done with it). This year, however, I’m on a mad rush to paint the rooms in my daughter’s first house so they can move in this weekend.
There’s a nagging little voice that I’d like to stomp out whenever it shows up in my life. It sounds practical, even virtuous. Isn’t this selfish? Shouldn’t I be spending this money and time on something more useful? I know that voice well; it torments me by telling me to do administrative tasks before painting. For others, it’s particularly loud when they consider signing up for a painting workshop.
I’ve spent my life hearing how art is secondary to the serious pursuits of math, science, history and economics. We tend to treat art education as optional, but scores of studies point to its importance both for the developing mind and for adults. That moves it up in priority, from something you earn only after all responsibilities are met to something that’s vital for health and happiness.
No other discipline is framed this way. Nobody suggests that continuing education for engineers, teachers, or physicians is selfish. In those fields, learning is understood as maintenance. Painting is no different. If you care about your work, you need input—fresh eyes, structured guidance, and time to think deeply about what you’re doing.
Self-indulgence or stewardship?
When you enroll in a painting workshop or online class, you’re hardly buying a luxury object. You’re investing in skill, clarity, and confidence. These are durable goods. They don’t wear out. They compound. A single breakthrough in understanding composition, value structure, or color harmony can quietly reshape every painting you make going forward. That’s not selfish; that’s efficient.
At a good painting workshop, you’re no longer guessing in isolation. You see how other painters solve problems. You learn why certain approaches fail and others succeed. Most importantly, you learn how to look. That’s the real product of art education, and it can’t be downloaded from a quick video or absorbed by osmosis.
Most painters don’t lack ability; they lack time and space. A workshop gives you sanctioned time to focus on your practice without apology. For caretakers, professionals, and anyone used to putting themselves last, this can feel transgressive. But it’s precisely why it matters. When you invest in your creative life, you model seriousness—about art, about learning, and about your own inner life.
From a practical standpoint, workshops often save time and money in the long run. How many years have you spent circling the same problems? Muddy color. Weak focal points. Paintings that never quite resolve. A few days of clear instruction can untangle issues that have stalled progress for a decade. That’s not extravagance; it’s problem-solving.
But wait, there’s more
Art isn’t just something you produce. It’s something that shapes how you think. Painting teaches patience, discernment and restraint. It trains you to make choices, live with them, and revise intelligently. Those skills don’t stay in the studio. They ripple outward into how you handle uncertainty everywhere else.
Investing in a painting workshop isn’t selfish; it’s a vote of confidence in your capacity to grow. And that’s one of the most responsible choices an artist can make.
I’d love to have you join me for Trust the Process (making technique tell the story you want to tell), my live Zoom class designed to help you build a dependable, joyful, repeatable painting practice. (It’ll give you something to focus on besides the bleak midwinter.) We’ll dig into technique, creative decision-making and the mindset that frees you to paint with confidence. We meet Monday nights, 6-9 PM EST, starting on January 5, 2026. It’s suitable for all levels and all media. You can learn more here.
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
- Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace:
I’ve owned and ridden horses for 45 years. I still take riding lessons and attend clinics. Some people ask why. Don’t you know how to ride yet? The answer is that there’s always more to learn and it’s always helpful to ride in an environment where an educated and skilled professional can give you feedback: the good and the “why don’t you try it this way.” Same for painting.
Thank you, Sandy.
This really hit home with me. As a wife & mother I often ask myself why. Why do I still feel compelled to pursue art at my age? Why don’t I realize at this point that it’s too late? Too late to catch up after years of artistic hibernation. Too many years of pushing down my dreams of painting.
Taking classes, purchasing books & tools, spending time doing art instead of household tasks. These all feed my need to do what makes my heart sing and my soul soar above the everyday life.
This compilation of reasons made sense of my thoughts on why I do art and need instruction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject!
From one wife and mother to another, I feel your pain. But we all have distractions that keep us from focusing. One of my dear friends just achieved a high honor. Those who don’t know him might think he has the male advantage of being able to focus on his career but I have known him when he’s had to take second jobs to feed his family.
And I think he would agree with me that his kids are the most important work he’s ever done, even as he achieves long overdue recognition for his art.
As for being too old, as long as we’re drawing breath we have contributions to make. My daughter and I were just talking about the importance of work, both for the worker and for all the rest of us.
Having said that, my back hurts.