I'm not Going Anywhere: My Next Chapter in Teaching

A room full of creativity, courage, and connection—these are the moments that remind me why I love teaching.

CLEAR THE AIR

I realized something after my last blog…

Some of you thought I was stepping away from teaching.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Teaching is, and always will be, one of the most meaningful parts of my journey as an artist. There is nothing quite like watching someone step into their creativity, take a risk, and create something they didn’t think was possible.

So let me say this clearly…

I’m not going anywhere.

WHY I TEACH

These past few weeks have been a perfect reminder of why I do what I do.

From my 4-Day Fiber Art Bootcamp to my Animal Portraits class in Tucson, I had the privilege of working with incredible students who showed up ready to learn, explore, and trust the process.

Capturing expression and emotion through fabric—where every piece tells part of the story.

Confidence coming to life - layer by layer, stitch by stitch

From simple shapes to striking composition—learning to see fabric as your canvas.

There’s a moment in every class where something shifts…when the fear fades, the confidence grows, and the art starts to come alive.

That moment never gets old.

THE SHIFT

So what is changing?

Not my passion.

Not my teaching.

What’s changing is how I teach.

Over time, I realized I was spreading myself too thin—teaching too many scattered classes, constantly on the move, and not leaving enough space for my own creative work or for building something bigger.

And I knew something had to shift.

TEACHING WITH INTENTION

Moving forward, my teaching is becoming more intentional.

Instead of trying to be everywhere, I’m focusing on:

• Fewer, more meaningful in-person classes

• Stronger, more immersive learning experiences

• Creating classes that go deeper—not just wider

• Building online courses and video content to reach more of you

Because I don’t just want to teach…

👉 I want to create experiences that truly impact how you see your art!

MY NEW CLASS DIRECTION

You’ll start to see this reflected in my updated classes:

• From Fabric to Fine Art: A 4-Day Fiber & Mixed Media Experience

• Eyes to Soul: Creating Expressive Animal Portraits - A 3-Day Fiber & Mixed Media Experience

• Creating with Inktense on Fabric - A 2-Day Mixed Medial Painting Experience

• Shaping Fiber into Form - A 2-Day Mixed Media Experience

• Painting with Thread: From Panel to Fine Art

These aren’t just technique-based classes anymore.

They are designed to help you:

• build confidence

• explore your creativity

• and move beyond traditional boundaries

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

If you’ve taken a class with me before—or have been thinking about it—here’s what this means:

You’ll still see me teaching.

You’ll still have opportunities to learn.

But those opportunities will be:

👉 more intentional

👉 more immersive

👉 and more impactful

WHAT’S COMING NEXT

This next chapter is also opening the door to something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time…

• Online classes

• YouTube content

• More ways to connect beyond the classroom

So no matter where you are, you’ll be able to create with me.

CLOSING

I’m still here.

Still teaching.

Still creating.

Just doing it in a way that honors both my art and my time.

No Rules, Just Art®

Deb Deaton