Mat-Cutting 101 was a hit!

Hello, art and framing lovers!

Last night (Thursday, March 6, 2008) I taught my first mat-cutting class, which was open to the public. I can tell you this: as a former English teacher, I haven't been that rejuvenated after teaching a class in a very long time! The best part: no papers to grade.

It was exhilarating, actually. The students arrived early at my gallery & frame shop. They were raring to go. They listened. They asked excellent questions. They asked even better follow-up questions. They practiced mat cutting. They made mistakes. They fixed their mistakes. They helped one another, and they applauded each other's successes. It was an amazing, uplifting, and emotionally "high" experience for me. I loved it! And I realized that of course what I miss about teaching are all the good parts.

Our second class is next week on March 13. We'll finish cutting our 8 x 10 "practice" mats and then we'll do the real thing on a 16 x 20 mat. Each student gets to bring one piece of artwork from home and cut a mat for it. They all seem really excited about it! One person is going to mat a portrait for her husband's birthday. What a great gift.

After last night's class, several students asked some very in-depth questions about mounting artwork and cutting frames. That gave me the perfect segue to promote my upcoming framing class in April. Unofficially, I'm calling it "Open Frame Shop Night" for the four Thursdays in April. "Graduates" of my mat cutting class can come in, choose mats and frames, and then work on the project with my help. I'll let you know how it goes!

JoAnn