Private Classes taught by Butch Young
Butch Young has been teaching glass carving for twenty-two years, but made the decision in 1995 to specialize in private instruction and group classes of no more than four students. Having been frequently hired as a guest instructor for classes of 12–20 students, she soon realized the futility of attempting to teach so many people of different levels of experience at the same time. The art of glass carving is delicate and complex, and requires a great deal of time per student. A large class simply creates frustration for all involved, since it is virtually impossible to find a common ground. The dynamics of the group learning curve, in her opinion, were too dull to be good value for the kind of students that she wished to teach: the committed people who are serious about wanting to make a living blasting glass, or who are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence.
- Private Classes are $1000.00 per day, and include full instruction every day, full room and board, as well as pick up and drop off from San Luis Obispo Airport. No car rental is necessary, but if your preference is to rent a car, we can help with that. All glass-related materials are included.Student accommodations include a 1500 square foot apartment with fully stocked fridge, laundry facilities, and an indoor pool and spa. We are located on five beautiful and private gated acres, complete with deer, quail, and wild turkeys wandering about. Check out student accommodations on the pull-down menu for photos.
- There is a firm seven-day minimum limit on class length. Seven days is recommended for most people. Students coming from great distances often ask for more time. There is such a vast amount of information, and the concentration needed is so demanding that students requiring additional days are encouraged to build an extra day into their schedule for rest and relaxation and/or sightseeing. The Central Coast of California is famous for its wineries, art galleries and ocean sites. There is no charge for instruction on such a day.
- There is no particular window of opportunity for private classes: the dates are simply agreed upon by Butch and you. Butch will do everything in her power to hold dates open. However, the dates for private classes are never firm, until a one-day deposit has been received.
- As a glass professional, Butch can offer her students extensive instruction on a multitude of topics, including carving, etching, cutting, lighting, painting, gold-leafing, display options, and much more. However, sometimes a student needs less help on technique, and more help on how to be successful. To that end, Butch is glad to extend all the advice she possibly can to the real-life problems of bidding effectively, obtaining work, generating interest, and educating buyers and clients to the wonders of blasted glass. And sometimes, a student’s difficulty is not with technique, or with getting paying work, but with the equipment. She can help with tools, booth design, and tips for a functional studio set-up. Butch’s goal is not just to recite a standard speech, but to tailor solutions to each student’s pursuit of artistic excellence and financial independence.
- Since no one, to Butch’s knowledge, carves glass the way she does, she is quite open to teaching beginners. If you have taken classes elsewhere, or have been experimenting on your own, do not despair: Butch will accept intermediate students, but only with the understanding that her goal will be to unteach any bad habits picked up along the way. As soon as you return home you can do things any other way you want, but it is Butch’s firm belief that her methods are sound, and require repetition to see results.
- Classes, as we said before, are one-on-one, with the only exceptions being spouses, business, or life partners who want to learn together. This is a special case, however, and requires consultation between Butch and each student.
While we’ve attempted to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about classes, the needs of each person are different, so please do not hesitate to call at (805) 462-2791 if you want to know more, or have a specific question. The best time to call is weekdays, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Pacific Time. We never pick up the phone during Jeopardy, Dallas Cowboy football games, or Dexter, so check your listings.
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