Benicia artist Diane Williams tapes a class for her new YouTube channel. Williams is utilizing YouTube to connect with students around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BENICIA- In the face of shelter in place restrictions, local artist and instructor Diane Williams had to learn newways to teach. In addition to quickly learning a variety oftechnology platforms, this week Williams launched her ownYouTube Channel, I AN I Studio channel connection.

In addition to painting full time, Williams and her husband, artist Chuck Potter, have taught local workshops in their studio in Benicia’s Arsenal. That is, until Covid stopped their classes entirely. Oddly, the pandemic pointed their teaching in a new direction – to online workshops and YouTube videos.

“The changes happened quickly, and in two days I learned the basics of Zoom and Google classroom as the cornerstones of my new classes” Williams said.

But, with no internet in her art studio, Williams began to videotape herself working on various projects and posting them on YouTube. With nothing more than her smart phone and a lighted tripod, Williams’ first videos showed only her hands and the projects she was demonstrating.

“I soon gained the courage to face the camera and speak to the audience,” stated Williams.

She also began watching other artists’ YouTube channels and noticed how they edited the work to flow seamlessly between artist, art work and information. After recruiting her son as editor, she now offers instructional videos on building stretcher bars, finishing with a top coat of cold wax, printing with textile block prints for collage and making birds of adobe clay. Potter got inspired by her example and now offers tips on working with plaster, a medium he has been developing for five years.

Before Covid, Williams and Potter taught workshops as far away as Whidbey Island, Washington, Gualala and Morrow Bay.

“YouTube virtually has allowed me to continue my established classes as well as expand my teaching to an entire worldwide cyber audience” said Williams, who plans to include her students’ work in her next video, providing them with an online exhibition opportunity.

“My students are excited to have an online exhibition since most galleries aren’t taking on new work,and this gives me the opportunity to demonstrate one of myclass assignments,” Williams said.

As Williams gets comfortable with the capabilities of technology, she plans to offer live demonstrations and workshops that can be recorded and edited for YouTube.

“My YouTube channel is a place where people can come to watch, learn, and have fun,” she said. “I want to connect people all over the world through the common language of art.”

You can connect with Williams via YouTube at I AN I Studiowww.youtube.com/channel/UC6qwWCd3nvsdlHxLlQqWFhw and through her website www.dianewilliamsart.net.

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