How teaching illustration at TUMO helped me grow as an artist

When I was asked to lead a workshop on digital illustrations for children aged 10-18 in Yerevan, Armenia, I didn’t know what to expect. But it turned out to be an amazing experience. Teaching illustration made me learn more about my profession, and led me to meet some incredible people. And to top it all off, I got to experience the craziest holiday – Vardavar – which was the perfect end to an unusual trip.

What is TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and what do they offer students

The TUMO Center for Creative Technologies is a free-of-charge educational program that puts teens in charge of their own learning. Their teaching illustration program is made up of self-learning activities, workshops and project labs that revolve around 14 learning targets.

The teaching illustration program provides an opportunity for young people to explore their creativity and learn new skills in a fun and supportive environment. Through the teaching illustration program, teens have the chance to work on real-world projects, meet new people and develop their confidence. By putting teens in charge of their own learning, they can reach their full potential.

My experience teaching illustration at TUMO

Being an illustration teacher was one of the best experiences I’ve had. Not only do you get to share your passion with students, but you also get to learn more about your craft. However, teaching illustration is also quite challenging. In such a short amount of time, you have to cover a lot of ground. From history and graphic design theory to practical skills and techniques as well as building students’ confidence, there’s a lot to cover in a single class for the next generation of creative professionals.

A rewarding experience

But teaching illustration is also an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing your students light up when they finally understand a concept or master a new technique is one of the best feelings in the world.

Growing professionally and personally

Teaching illustration has also helped me to grow as an artist. By researching new techniques and exploring different approaches to my work, I’ve been able to push my own boundaries and discover new ideas about my craft. Teaching illustration is an experience that I would recommend to any artist looking to expand their skill set and grow.

The benefits of learning illustration at TUMO Center for Creative Technologies

Learning illustration at TUMO is certainly a benefit. The students not only learned how to use professional design software, but also how to get an idea from a sketch to a finished illustration. After finishing the class project, the students took away a gallery of beautiful, self-made illustrations from the classroom.

But seriously, the benefits of learning illustration go beyond just the tangible skills and products. The process of learning illustration can help people to develop their creative problem-solving skills, as well as their patience and attention to detail. In addition, to create art can be therapeutic and calming, providing a much-needed outlet for stress and anxiety. So whether you’re looking to boost your career or your mental health, learning illustration is a benefits choice!

How illustration can help students in other fields of study

As any art student knows, illustration is not just about drawing pretty pictures. It is a complex process that involves understanding composition, light and shadow, and perspective. As it turns out, illustration can also be helpful in other fields of study. For example, students of anatomy can benefit from studying medical illustrations, which provide a highly accurate and detailed representation of the human body. Likewise, illustrations of archaeological sites can help students to visualize and understand the layout of ancient civilizations.

In short, illustration is a valuable tool that can be used to support learning in a variety of different subject areas. So next time you’re struggling to understand a concept, try looking for an illustration – it just might help you to see the big picture.

Final Thoughts on Being an Illustration teacher

I’ve learned a lot about teaching, and illustration, and met great artists and colleagues from all over the world.

At the end of my trip, I experienced the craziest holiday – Vardavar, which was the perfect end of an unusual trip. Most traditionally, it’s a water-drenching holiday where people splash each other with water. It’s said that if you don’t get soaked on Vardavar, you won’t be healthy for the rest of the year. Since I was staying in Armenia during Vardavar, I decided to fully participate in the holiday.

I got drenched within seconds of stepping outside and ended up going through 3 sets of clothes by the end of the day. It was a great way to say goodbye to Armenia – a country that I had grown to love over the past few months. Teaching at TUMO has been an unforgettable experience, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to teach a course to such talented and passionate students.