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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have walked out of art class?

58 replies

WizzardPjs · 27/03/2022 22:02

Started an art class a few months ago. I loved it and used to look forward to it every week. Now another tutor has taken over and she frustrates me so much.

The first tutor was very much “let’s start, paint along with me” and would crack on straight away.
New tutor likes to talk. She stands there rabbiting on for ages until my mind starts wandering … then eventually she’ll squeeze out a bit of paint which we all do … then she’ll start rabbiting on about that specific colour for ages … meanwhile it’s drying up (acrylic) and I’m getting tense and anxious about the paint drying. Then eventually she’ll squeeze the next paint colour out and do the same thing. Stand talking about it. By the time all the colours are out she’ll say “ok, so the first colour is starting to dry out so if we just add a bit more … “ talk talk talk!! Just get on with it for fucks sake.
Last week she’d stood talking for so long that by time the actual painting started all the colours needed pouring out again. What a waste! Then she eventually got to where she was starting the painting and left her brush hovering around the canvas whilst she talked about it. I impulsively splattered paint all over my canvas and made a right mess (the art class is meant to helping with my ADHD). She asked why I’d done that so I told her I had adhd and can be really impulsive if I don’t keep active. She apologised and said “but theory is important”.

Anyway part of my adhd includes impulsively shouting out. Obviously not as bad as I was a kid but situations where I’m left anticipating and getting frustrated make it more likely.

This week I had to walk out quickly before this happened.

Later I emailed her saying I’m not sure if the class is for me as there is too much talking and not enough doing. She then posted a poll on the Facebook group asking if people thought she talked too much and everyone said no and that they liked her informative lessons and that she takes the time to explain stuff. So is it me being unreasonable??!

OP posts:
MojoMoon · 27/03/2022 22:04

Neither of you is unreasonable. You just aren't suited to her art class.
Find a different one?

EIisheva · 27/03/2022 22:05

Well that would drive me mad too but I have ADHD too and am constantly moving

I do an art class and like to crack on

ThisisMax · 27/03/2022 22:05

No you are not being unreasonable. I am awaiting ADHD assessment and I totally get your frustration. I would just feel like throwing myself through a window in that scenario. Inactivity whilst listening without doing is highly irritating.

TabithaTittlemouse · 27/03/2022 22:06

Find a different class. She sounds like a bore.

AtrociousCircumstance · 27/03/2022 22:06

ADHD or not, she sounds frustrating.

VeggieSausage · 27/03/2022 22:08

Sounds like the class doesn't suit you. Probably best to find something else.

MimosaFields · 27/03/2022 22:11

I left a knitting workshop today before the end, as I had reached a point when I was not learning anything and I was getting frustrated. It has reached a level beyond my ability and the room was very small so I was feeling exhausted from lack of fresh air. So I made my excuses and left.

Painting is your hobby and your therapy. You should find a class that suits you. Don't worry about today!!

MichelleScarn · 27/03/2022 22:13

Is it a paint along step by step class as in you can't do anything without her say so?

pandora206 · 27/03/2022 22:13

Sounds quite tedious and not at all typical of painting workshops, though some theory can be useful. I'd research the local area and find something more suitable. It's nearly the end of term so there should be new courses running after Easter.

floofycroissant · 27/03/2022 22:17

I left a pottery course recently as it had been totally misssold. The teacher was very talented but it wasn't right for me, I was very bored and didn't see the point. Which isn't the way to spend your free time. Do what's best for you.

EmmaH2022 · 27/03/2022 22:17

How is the class paid for? Replacing a paint along teacher with a theory favpurong teacher isn't a good swap.

I was once on a 12 week Pilates course. The first teacher was excellent and got lots of variety in. Sadly she fell ill and the replacement teacher was actually no good full stop, not just by comparison. She made a few people feel uncomfortable when they couldn't do as many reps as she wanted etc.

A few of us managed to get a part refund. I think you have an argument for that, if you have paid in advance, depending on how the class is described.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/03/2022 22:17

I'd be desperately trying not to vocalise FOR FUCK'S SAKE GET ON WITH IT as well. There's no reason why explanations and theory cannot take place at the same as doing something.

Find a different class.

UnsuitableHat · 27/03/2022 22:18

I wouldn’t like that either. Sounds like she needs a better balance.

EmmaH2022 · 27/03/2022 22:18

Also, wasting paint so it needs to be poured again....argh!

Veryverycalmnow · 27/03/2022 22:20

She should have offered to adapt a bit to suit your needs. It's one of the challenges of teaching, but it's part of her role.
An example of something she could have done was allow you to get started on a smaller project while she was rabbiting on. A good tutor would have emailed back to try and help rather than use facebook to invalidate your comments.
I wonder if she's quite new to it.

Clymene · 27/03/2022 22:21

God that sounds ridiculous!

Loopytiles · 27/03/2022 22:21

I would struggle to be polite too. If I liked the other people, location, day and time I would probably stick it out until the end of the block of classes I’d paid for and just get stuck into my paining while she jabbered.

romdowa · 27/03/2022 22:21

I've adhd and this would have driven me insane. I'd have just started painting while she talked 🤣🤣 or kept telling her that the paint was drying out 🙈🙈

Loopytiles · 27/03/2022 22:22

Painting not paining: freudian slip perhaps!

FlissyPaps · 27/03/2022 22:22

I LOVE painting and I’m also a person who likes to “just get on with it”.

Are you able to paint whatever your want whilst she’s talking? Or have a separate piece of paper to doodle/play on whilst she’s talking and follow her painting on a different sheet of paper.

If she’s quite strict I’d find another class that isn’t as structured/serious.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 27/03/2022 22:22

That would tip me right over the edge too. She'd be lucky not to get paint splattered all over her, not the canvas Grin

WizzardPjs · 27/03/2022 22:22

I joined this particular class as it was described as a paint along and that’s what I need. I learn by doing - I can’t listen to someone explaining something as I just zone out. When this teacher took over we were told the class would remain the same but this woman does everything in slow motion. I was so embarrassed at splattering paint everywhere and wasn’t going to go back this week but the brush hovering inches from the canvas, the slow talking, the repetitive phrases etc etc I was in real danger of shouting out which would have made me look like a right Wally

OP posts:
Appalonia · 27/03/2022 22:24

I get your frustrations OP. I do a 2 hour oil painting class once a week and I get irritated and frustrated when my teacher is talking too much. I see it as wasting precious time as 2 hours is not much time at all to get some painting done. In fact, 2 weeks ago, I was so fed up I actually said, could we please start doing some painting now? as she was faffing about with the only guy in the class who. sucks all her attention.

I think you need to consider whether you are getting enough out of the class to continue with it. Are you enjoying what you have been painting? Are you learning useful techniques? Has your painting improved? Creating art can be so rewarding and help relieve stress. If not, could you carry on painting at home? There are lots of fabulous artists who do tutorials on YouTube that you can follow.

Think about what you wanted to achieve when you first decided to do an art class, has it helped you? You can't change your teacher, and art is indeed about doing. Theory can be helpful to some people, but you're not that kind of learner. Don't give up on your art if you enjoy it, either look at what you ARE getting out of the course and continue, or find other ways to continue painting on your own. Good luck!

D0lphine · 27/03/2022 22:24

@MojoMoon

Neither of you is unreasonable. You just aren't suited to her art class. Find a different one?
First poster nailed it.

Art classes are supposed to be fun, so find one that is fun!

Kanaloa · 27/03/2022 22:24

It wouldn’t suit me but obviously according to the poll others like the chatty type of thing. On the other side of it, I’m quite a nervous Nellie and like to hear everything laid out before I start. I wouldn’t want to just jump right in and would feel comforted by hearing what to do slowly before I started.

So on balance she’s not wrong but you’re not wrong! It just doesn’t suit you.