Many artists find that at some point in their careers they begin to play a role in helping and encouraging young people or children in some way related to their artistic development. Sometimes it’s a family connection that sparks the relationship, and sometimes a chance encounter, while at other times it can be the result of a conscious decision to volunteer in an art organization such as Art Start, a program which has been mentioned on this blog before.

This kind of relationship can seem a little intimidating, especially at the beginning, but there’s no reason why it should be. Acting as a mentor to a younger artist, or to a young person with an interest in art, is a valuable experience for both parties. You don’t have to be [...]