The art of learning by DOING and not by LEARNING
An action-oriented approach to taking online courses
So, let's talk about the wild ride that was 2020. We all know how the pandemic hit us like a wrecking ball, making us trade our outdoor adventures for days at home. Something else happened during 2020: the world of online courses and online education exploded like never before!
That’s also one of the reasons why as a creative entrepreneur I invested more time into building my own database of online courses teaching Affinity Designer and Procreate and generating a new source of income via selling those courses on platforms such as Skillshare and Gumroad.
Read more:
From Hobbyist to Entrepreneur: 3 Passive Income Ideas for Artists
In my art career, I have tried out various platforms and sources of income, and in this blog post I’d like to share with you my top 3 ideas for generating passive income. I could write an SEO-friendly article about top 5 or top 10 passive income ideas and then just enumerate them and kind of describe them. Instead,
I think that 2020-2021 was seriously the best time to make money in online education. Now in 2023 we see that things slowly change. One example? The 2022 and 2023 layoffs at another online course platform, Domestika 😬
Domestika, the Online Learning Unicorn, Closes Global Offices and Downsizes Staff by 40%
In any case, this article is not going to analyze the business side of changes in the world of online courses. It’s to acknowledge that things indeed exploded back in 2020 and people were taking online courses like crazy! Were you one of them?
And now THE question to ask yourself is - where did that bring you to now, in 2023? How did this tutorials-binging on Skillshare or YouTube or Domestika or Udemy accelerate your creative career?
Look back, objectively, at all the courses you might have taken in the last 6-12 months and tell me honestly - which of them have contributed positively to your art career, also in monetary terms?
PS: if you’re reading this and you can’t relate (you weren’t watching online courses like crazy hi hi), keep reading this article to get practical tips on how to watch online courses and tutorials and make the best out of them).
Don’t get me wrong, I take a lot of courses myself! :) More often just for fun than for any other “business” practicalities. But here’s where the thin line lies - sometimes all that we do is watch online courses, thinking that when we “learn by learning”, this will help us grow our creative business.
And the truth is, you won’t grow your career (any career) by JUST learning. You will certainly grow it by “learning and DOING”.
For some perspective, please look at the checklist below and tell me which of those tasks you’ve done in the last 3 months:
Did you set up your creative goals and objectives? (business-wise) in writing?
Did you approach a potential client for possible work opportunities?
Did you create or update a list of potential companies that you’d like to approach soon?
Did you track your income vs your expenses?
Did you refresh your website portfolio?
Did you attend a networking event?
Did you connect with your existing client base to provide updates on your work?
Did you take care of your monthly newsletter to connect with your target audience?
Did you take care of your ever-green platforms, such as Pinterest and created new relevant pins?
Did you write at least 1 engaging knowledge blog post for your website?
I think you see where I’m going with this :) Learning for the sake of learning won’t accelerate your growth. But here’s what will:
Set clear goals
Before starting an online course, outline your learning goals. What skills or techniques do you want to develop? What specific projects or outcomes do you hope to achieve? Setting clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the course.
OK, so you want to learn how to make repeat patterns in Affinity Designer. Why? Is it for fun, or do you want to improve your skills so that you can build a better patterns portfolio AND start applying to potential customers this year?
Be an active participant
Don’t binge on watching online courses mindlessly - treat them as an interactive experience instead. Engage actively with the course material, assignments, and discussions. Take notes, ask questions, and participate in any online forums or communities associated with the course (like my Affinity Designer support group).
Actively seeking and sharing feedback will deepen your learning experience. Plus, you can make new artist friends :)
Practice regularly
So what, you watched a course and that’s it? Now you’ll forget about it? Your time is too precious! Dedicate regular time to practice what you learn in each course module.
Apply the concepts and techniques taught in the lessons through hands-on exercises and projects. Allocate specific practice sessions and commit to consistent practice to reinforce your skills and develop muscle memory. Consistency is key.
Experiment and explore
While the course content provides guidance, don't be afraid to experiment and explore beyond the given assignments. Use the knowledge gained to create your own unique pieces or variations.
This experimentation will help you develop your artistic voice and push the boundaries of your creativity. Perhaps it will inspire you to start a 30-day challenge? ;)
Unleash Your Creativity: The Benefits of a 30-Day Art Challenge
Hello Creatives! It’s June 2nd, and yesterday I started my 30-days art challenge #30daysofditsy For 30 days straight (the entire month of June), I’ll be creating video content showing one ditsy pattern every day and I’ll be publishing it as reels, TikToks, YouTube shorts and Pinterest idea pins. After 1 month, I’ll be sharing my findings via this newsletter and
Seek feedback
This is seriously THE best thing you can do after taking any online course. Actively seek feedback from instructors, peers, or online communities. Share your work and ask for constructive criticism.
Feedback will help you identify areas for improvement and provide insights on how to refine your techniques. Incorporating feedback into your practice will accelerate your growth as an artist, I promise!
Apply learning to real-world projects
Oh yes! You created a seamless pattern, hurray! So what? :) Sorry for my harshness hi hi, I’m trying to motivate you here. Did you design your repeat pattern with the end-product in mind? Did you test it out on a mock-up? You don’t need fancy and expensive mock-up templates, you can draw your own:
To make your learning actionable, apply the skills and techniques you acquire in online courses to real-world projects. Take on personal projects or collaborations where you can put your newly acquired knowledge to use. This practical application will solidify your understanding and build a portfolio that showcases your progress and capabilities.
Reflect and iterate
After completing each course module or project, take time to reflect on your learning journey. Identify what worked well, what challenges you faced, and what you can improve upon. Use this reflection to inform your next steps and iterate on your approach, continually refining and honing your skills. Combine it with the previous point - get feedback about your work.
I actually have a dedicated journal for that purpose - kinda like a brain-dump notebook. Maybe it’s a sign that you should start a sketchbook/journal practice today?
What are your thoughts? I’d love to read your comments on that one! Make sure to subscribe guys for more advice and thoughts on how to grow your creative business.
Read more:
The One Platform That You Should Always Have
While social media platforms have revolutionized the way artists share their work, and to some extent they did empower us, they still have serious limitations that make having a personal website so insanely important for all creatives. If you asked me this question: “What is THE one platform that I should invest into?” - without any doubt I’d reply that you need to have your own website. And ideally, one with your own name domain.
Excellent post—this is me! Much learning, several starts, but not as much follow through. But I now have a plan and goals, and more important, my big WHY, which is what keeps me going even through the times when it seems like progress is slow. I am learning that even a small amount of progress is good, and participating is valuable! Thank you for the additional tips and the great courses, Weronika!