Teaching Philosophy
✦
Teaching Philosophy ✦
At The Open Art Lab in East Nashville, art is taught through a process-based approach supported by strong foundational skills. Our classes are designed to help students slow down, observe carefully, experiment freely, and build creative confidence over time. Rather than rushing toward polished results or relying on imagination alone, we focus on learning how to see, how to work through mistakes, and how to understand form, structure, and materials.
The creative process is always valued more than the final outcome. Finished artwork is important, but it is not the primary goal. By emphasizing exploration, problem-solving, and curiosity, students develop skills that support long-term creative growth and a deeper relationship with art.
Teaching is thoughtfully adapted based on age and experience. Adult art classes balance open exploration with intentional skill-building in a low-pressure, judgment-free environment. Children’s art classes are gently structured and paced with care, emphasizing comfort with materials, observation, and creative confidence rather than performance.
Across all classes, there are a few non-negotiables: no comparison, no competition, and no single “right” outcome. Individual pace, boundaries, and differences are always respected.
At The Open Art Lab, creativity is treated as a personal
process—one that deserves patience, care, and space to unfold.
What This Looks Like
in Practice
A typical class at The Open Art Lab begins with slowing down. Students may start by observing a subject, exploring materials, or working through a simple prompt designed to encourage curiosity rather than perfection. Demonstrations and guidance are offered thoughtfully, allowing students to engage at their own pace while building foundational skills along the way.
Classes are intentionally paced to allow for pauses, questions, and experimentation. Students are encouraged to explore different approaches, make adjustments, and work through challenges without pressure. Instruction is flexible and responsive, meeting each student where they are—whether they’re brand new to art or returning after time away.
For children, this approach creates a calm, supportive environment where confidence grows naturally through hands-on exploration. For adults, it offers space to reconnect with creativity without judgment, comparison, or the expectation to “get it right.” Across all age groups, the focus remains on engagement, curiosity, and developing a meaningful relationship with the creative process.
What You
Won’t
Find Here
Step-by-step copying or
rigid, one-size-fits-all instruction
Comparison, competition,
or pressure to perform
Rushed projects with a required finished outcome
High-stress or judgment-based learning environments
A single “correct” way to make art
The Open Art Lab is intentionally designed for those who value process, exploration, and personal growth over speed or perfection. If you’re looking for fast results or formulaic projects, this may not be the right fit—and that’s okay. Our goal is to create space for creativity to unfold naturally, with patience, care, and respect for each individual’s experience.
Ready To Try it
For Yourself?
Reading about process-based learning is one thing—experiencing it is another.
Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or returning to art after a long break, our classes are designed to meet you where you are and give you room to explore.
Come make something, try something new, and see what unfolds.