Lately, I’ve been stretching and pushing myself in new ways, stepping outside my comfort zone and into the role of student. You may have caught glimpses of this on my Instagram stories (@claire_desjardins_art), where I’ve been sharing bits and pieces of my experiences taking art classes. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this journey because I think it’s important—both as an artist and as a person—to continue evolving, learning, and embracing the challenge of the unfamiliar.
Right now, I’m enrolled in an abstract figurative painting class at the Sarasota Art Museum, which is associated with Ringling College. My teacher, Victoria Mayol, is a fabulous artist whose work is very different from mine. I first discovered her through a gallery that represents both of us in downtown Sarasota, and I was immediately drawn to her unique approach. While I have no intention of mimicking her style, I saw an opportunity to explore new techniques, challenge my usual ways of working, and refresh my perspective on making art.
My fabulous instructor Victoria Mayol leading our class and sharing her techniques.
I’ve long wanted to incorporate figurative elements into my paintings, but always in a way that remains true to my voice. That’s the trick, isn’t it? To learn from others while still holding onto what makes our own work distinct. I’m taking this class not just to pick up technical skills, but to push myself into areas that feel less comfortable, to allow myself to make mistakes, and to resist the urge to fall back on what I know will be successful. It’s so easy to stick with what works, but if I’m not exploring, am I really growing?
The process hasn’t always been easy. Frustration is not something I typically associate with painting—I’ve built my practice around intuitive, colorful abstraction—but in this class, I find myself struggling when things don’t come as easily as I expect. It’s a humbling experience. I realize I need to be more patient with myself, to give myself permission to be a beginner again. It’s a good reminder that we are all works in progress.
This curiosity and willingness to learn extend beyond painting. I’m also taking a Spanish class at a local technical college, and next month, I’ll be diving into a mosaic class for a hands-on, build-it-yourself experience. Then in April, I’ll be back with Victoria Mayol for another class—this time focused on portrait painting. Hopefully, she won’t get tired of me! Her structured teaching method is quite different from my own, and I find that refreshing.
Each of these experiences is teaching me something new—not just about technique, but about myself. I hope that by sharing this journey, it inspires others to step into unfamiliar spaces, to be okay with not being “good” at something right away, and to embrace the messy, beautiful process of growth.
If you’ve ever considered trying something new, whether in art or any other part of life, I encourage you to go for it. You never know what you might discover.