Course Overview

One of the greatest obstacles in the creative process is the fear of failure. While the desire to appear successful, knowledgeable, and competent is natural, true discovery requires experimentation, and some experiments are bound to fail. As any scientist can attest, breakthroughs emerge through hypothesis and testing, and the same applies to creative practice. Innovation thrives when ideas are put into action, allowing possibilities to expand exponentially. Sometimes, the most unexpected mistakes lead to transformative new directions, processes or approaches. Often, the bigger the accident or mistake, the more we learn!

This course invites participants to embrace mistakes as an essential part of creative growth. Through readings, discussions, and leaps into the unknown, students will explore the power of trial and error. The class meets biweekly, providing time between sessions for reflection and testing new ideas. A digital classroom will be available for sharing work in progress and engaging with peers. For those eager to push boundaries in their creative practice, this course offers a supportive environment, constructive feedback, and inspiration. 

If your desired tuition option is unavailable, please email info@penumbrafoundation.org and we will do our best to accommodate you. If the entire class is sold out, we can add you to the waitlist.

Images © Anne Eder

ANNE EDER is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. She is faculty at Harvard University Ceramics program, and a lecturer in the Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University. She holds a master’s degree in Photography and Integrated Media from Lesley University College of Art and Design where she studied with Christopher James, author of the Book of Alternative Processes. 

She has won multiple awards, including four Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, a first place series JMC, and two International Pollux Awards for alternative process. Her work has been published internationally and her images and studio practice are featured in Gum Printing: A Step-By-Step Manual Highlighting Artists and Their Creative Practice by Christina Z. Anderson and in Morgan Post's Alternative Process Photography for the Contemporary Photographer: A Beginner's Guide, both published by Focal Press/Routledge. She teaches a range of courses in experimental analog and interdisciplinary processes. anneeder.com

A minimum of three students is required for all courses to run. In most cases, our registration deadline is 24 hrs prior to the start time of a workshop/class. If there is a workshop/class you would like to register for but it is not listed or if you have questions, please contact griffin@penumbrafoundation.org.

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