How to Find an Expert to Learn From (At Every Budget)
If you've ever been frustrated at how many roadblocks you're hitting as you head down your chosen path…I've got your next move for you. What if you were guided by a mentor who's been there before, recently, and has already hurdled those roadblocks? Not only that, they can't wait to help the next person on the path navigate these tough spots. Why? Because they worked hard to figure it out, and they want all that work to mean something!
Growing up in a culture of "work harder to do better," I definitely bought the myth of the lone genius, toiling away in isolation until they emerge fully formed with a signature style and technical mastery. But that's nonsense. I mean, the great masters ALL did this back in the day - working in the studios of masters for years, even DECADES, before going out on their own. And when they did, many of them surpassed their mentors!
Just like we want our kids to make it further than we did, the experts in the field are actually rooting for you. Their area of expertise matters to them, and they want to push it forward by training up the next generation. That's where you come in!
If you're stuck in your creative practice, spinning your wheels on the same technique, or feeling like you're not improving as fast as you'd like, you probably don't need more practice time. You need a guide. An expert. Someone who's already walked the path you're trying to navigate.
The good news? Finding that expert doesn't require thousands of dollars, a prestigious art school, or even leaving your house.
In this post, I'm sharing how to find experts to learn from - at every price point, for every schedule, and for every learning style. Plus, I'll tell you exactly what I'm doing right now to level up my own ceramics practice without breaking the bank.
Trying to figure it all out?
Uncover your own personal curriculum and work smarter, with help, rather than getting lost in the weeds.
Why Going It Alone Keeps You Stuck
The thing is, I love working alone. I like quiet, and I get nervous with someone over my shoulder. But I also don't know what I don't know. I have spent months on a particular technique only to have one little tip or trick skyrocket me past those troubles to my next level. I see this a lot in the Facebook groups I'm in - you can tell by someone's questions that they're just getting started and don't even know what to ask yet. But they're already winning because they had the courage to ask!
The problem though, with scattered questions on Facebook groups, is that you get 50 different responses, some smart-ass or unhelpful comments like "take a class!" and plenty of conflicting opinions on which way to go. Imagine what a focused, trusted guide could do for you - saving time of shouting into the void, and the energy of trying a bunch of stuff only to go right back to the drawing board.
See, I don't like to make mistakes, and I especially don't like to be SEEN making mistakes, you know? So I worked on my own for a long time, trying to just knuckle down and work harder to achieve mastery. But wow, was that slow going. I don't have three lifetimes to figure this out, so it was time to find a teacher.
The emotional cost of feeling stuck is real. You start to doubt yourself and your capabilities, maybe even your worth. I mean, I quit my job as a doctor and thought, if I put all that brain power into becoming an artist, I could crush it!! And I still believe that. But it turns out the brain power was initially overshadowed by fear and ego that was preventing me from asking for help. The minute I admitted I was a beginner, open to learning and ready to mess up for real - things began to turn around.
Now, I didn't have time, money or the faintest clue of how to find an expert ceramicist willing to take me on as an apprentice. But I DID read the book Mastery by Robert Greene. You know me and my self-improvement books. And he pointed out that your apprentice could actually be a book. RIGHT up my alley. A book won't even look over my shoulder! So I grabbed a few and away I went. I also started (sheepishly at first) asking questions of my fellow potters in the community studio. Let the learning accelerate!!
Four Ways to Find Your Expert (At Every Budget)
Here's what I've learned: the concept of having an "apprentice" relationship with a master - like Robert Greene talks about in his book Mastery - doesn't mean you need a formal one-on-one arrangement. You just need someone who knows more than you do and is willing to share it.
Option 1: The Community Expert (Often Free)
This is your fellow artist at the community studio who's a few steps ahead of you on their creative journey. They're not necessarily a master potter with 40 years of experience - they might just be the person who's been throwing bowls for five years while you've been doing it for six months.
These relationships are gold because they're accessible, ongoing, and often free. Plus, there's something about learning from someone who recently struggled with the exact thing you're struggling with right now.
I recently heard from a student who had just taken class. She just shot me a really brief message, "Hey lady! Do you ever take on apprentices?" And although I hadn't officially done this before, I was intrigued at what we could offer each other. So, we met up to discuss it, and it really hit me how we could help each other, each receiving value, with no monetary cost to either of us. As an instructor in ceramics, I'd teach her for free, while she would help me to refine my teaching methods and growing business with feedback and support. We'd both be moving towards our goals faster. Win-WIN.
And for me, I'm hoping to learn about firing kilns and studio operations while helping out at the community art center where I teach. Everyone benefits when we pool our talents and resources.
Option 2: The Detailed Instructional Book
A well-written instructional book can absolutely serve as your mentor. The key is treating it like a course - working through it chapter by chapter, doing all the exercises, taking notes.
I'm currently refreshing my wheel-throwing education with Ben Carter's Mastering the Potter's Wheel: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Potters. Each chapter is like a private lesson. I work through the exercises, I practice what he teaches, I move on when I've got it down.
When selecting a book, look for a good organizational set up. My favorites are books that give you "homework" - a sample project that teaches the core skill of each chapter. Even if an exercise is not mentioned, you can make one of your own. Repetition is key - for example if the lesson is on pulling handles, make 10 mugs with handles. Note along the way what worked, what didn't, and something you learned about your own personal preferences and style along the way. You don't have to like each technique you're learning. Finding out what you don't like - and why - is just as valuable in improving as an artist and especially valuable in narrowing down your personal artistic voice.
Your classroom is infinite -
And your community is out there.
Option 3: Online Courses with Instructor Feedback
This is where things get really powerful. Online courses give you expert instruction on your schedule, but the magic happens when the instructor is actually available for feedback.
I learned to express myself with painting through an online course with an active community and instructor feedback. (Anyone know "Find Your Joy" by Louise Fletcher?) The course itself was valuable, but having someone who could look at my work and say "try this" or "you're almost there, just adjust that" - that's what actually moved the needle. Not to mention the community of fellow beginners who cheered each other on throughout the process.
In looking for a course, you can start with free YouTube or Instagram Reels to at least see who you vibe with, and who you'd like to learn from. But the real value comes from structure and accountability. Showing up for a live lesson is really powerful, or at least a live Q&A where you get to hear what others are asking, learn from it, and even ask your own questions as your confidence grows.
Option 4: Coaching and Memberships
Once you find someone you like learning from, many of these instructors offer a more personalized coaching option, where you work 1:1 or in group coaching calls with the instructor. This is the highest level of investment, but it can also yield the fastest results because it's tailored specifically to YOU - your goals, your struggles, your unique situation.
The difference between a course and coaching? A course gives you the roadmap; coaching helps you navigate the detours and roadblocks specific to your journey. It's the difference between following a recipe and having a chef in your kitchen adjusting the seasoning to your taste.
Memberships fall somewhere in between - you get ongoing access to an instructor and community, usually with monthly calls, resources, and support. It's less expensive than one-on-one coaching but gives you more personalized attention than a one-time course.
This level of support is awesome because it incentivizes you not only to show up, but to prepare, do your homework, set concrete goals and work steadily towards them. This feels amazing, and even better to get positive feedback on your progress. Right now, I'm in a business coaching program that's helping me figure out the art business side of things - something I definitely couldn't have pieced together from books alone. Having someone say "here's exactly what you need to do next" is worth its weight in gold when you're paralyzed by options.
The Secret Advantage of Learning From Multiple Experts
Here's something I didn't expect: piecing together my education from multiple sources - Ben Carter's book for throwing technique, work-study for kiln knowledge, online courses for painting expression and business skills - has made me a more well-rounded artist than if I'd studied under just one teacher.
Each expert brings their own philosophy, their own shortcuts, their own way of seeing. You get to cherry-pick the best from each and create your own approach. Because you're synthesizing multiple perspectives, you'll progress in your own way, develop a unique skill set, style and way of showing up and adding value to your world. Which feels really satisfying!
When selecting your sources, go with your instincts, but then write it down - make a framework for what you hope to gain from each source, and write your own statement of what you'd like to gain from this unique combination of teachers overall. That will ensure you avoid rabbit holes and procrastination pits.
No one can tell you exactly what to do - because no one has lived YOUR life before. You are the boss of yourself, and it helps to treat this role seriously and with your goals and best interests in mind. Don't let outdated expectations or limiting beliefs stop you from moving towards your own goals and dreams. And yet - don't narrow your expectation of success to the point where it's impossible to achieve. Progress, not perfection!
We can make each other better!
Let’s go!
CONCLUSION
Finding an expert to learn from isn't about finding the "perfect" teacher with the exact right credentials. It's about finding someone - or several someones - who knows more than you do and is willing to share it, in whatever format fits your life right now.
Start small. Pick one expert, one book, one course. Work through it completely before jumping to the next shiny thing. That's how you build mastery - not by collecting resources, but by actually using them. And every once in a while, look behind you - and congratulate yourself for how far you have come!
Quick Win: Right now, think of one person in your creative community who's a bit ahead of you. Send them a message asking one specific question about their process.
Solid Solution: Choose one instructional book or online course and commit to working through it completely over the next 3 months. Put it in your calendar.
Treat Yourself: Ready to invest in your growth? Consider joining a multi-week online course or paid membership community where you'll get expert instruction, personalized feedback, and connection with other artists on the same journey. And if you're interested in ceramics, stick with me - my new online courses will be coming out over the next several months!
With Enthusiasm for Life & Art,