About Schools

I seemed to have missed out on these 'art speak' courses in college. I couldn't seem to get a single art instructor to talk to me! (Except one really cute one [hee hee])

Anyway!! Has anyone else experienced this - if so, what the hell is this strange phenomenon? What I'm talking about is the art instructor who walks over to your easel... taps the corner of the desk... you get up... he takes your place... smears a bit of paint or pencil here or there... dabs a spot with an eraser... then gets up and nods at you to sit back down and finish your work. He MIGHT even utter the letters 'Ok' if you're lucky!!

I might have stayed to graduate if I got some 'artspeak'!

you had one of those good teachers who would rather show you how to correct your mistakes than talk nonstop about nothing.

quitcher bitchin and work.

But I was left with questions!!! What in the world was good about a teacher like that? He didn't show me anything - He just put his 'touch' on my artwork... which was (I swear to God) two dabs of whatever.

You aren't that teacher are you??? Leon!!

I once had a teacher who would at the begining of the session Yell and scream at the students. One of his little quips was 'SEE? You think you can SEE??? Your eyes would be better used as PENCIL HOLDERS!!!!!!!' Well after a week of this usually about half of the weak hearted would drop his class, he would then procede to really teach. Aside from his gruffness he was one of the best teachers I've ever had... I guess he was weeding out the faint of heart. Often stating 'You should live and die for your art.' 'If you are not willing to do so then perhaps you would be better as an art critic.' or worse, 'A gallery owner.' His skill and knowledge of the medium was extraordinary... I was there to learn...When I was so honored he would demonstrate on my work to make a point and answer my questions. I guess I was open to this sort of instruction because I knew he knew more than me. I never saw his touching my work as an annouance as I was there to learn and he was getting paid to teach. Sweetheart... allow the teacher to earn the money he is being paid. You'll have plenty of time in the future to explore on your own.

Hi Artonio...

Sounds scary. I'm afraid I would have been one of those that left. LOL

Lucky you. He talked!

<evil laugh> YES AH HA HA HAAAaaa </evil laugh> The future is Mine... MINE I SAY!!

Seriously tho, I have left the building. The school building, that is - about 15 years ago. And 5 grand in the hole. What a waste.

Hi Nerdgerl

Sorry to hear that your schooling was less then you paid for.>

I have found an inarticulate trend among art teachers. They seem to have learned by a form of imitation and have a general fear of the intellectual. You may have been lucky to have escaped.

Although some posters on this topic have voiced approval of their teachers I have not seen enough of their work to evaluate whether or not they have learned anything. Just because they say they learned a great deal does not mean they have learned anything other than a rote method. The rote method will carry them only so far, but that may be all they want.

keith