| How does one become an artist? It makes | | | | demands the ability to look at your work |
| sense to start with this broad topic, rather | | | | objectively, not an easy task. I spent a |
| than the fundamentals of drawing, painting, | | | | year or two playing and studying chess many |
| etc, because this is the basic framework for | | | | years ago, and found that it improved my |
| everything else. To say that a person is | | | | drawing ability, probably because chess |
| "born" to be an artist is a romanticized | | | | demands so much concentration and foresight. |
| cop-out. Some people may have a greater | | | | And if you are an artist that works in a |
| aptitude for learning the craft, but the | | | | representational style, try studying and |
| inclination towards art is shaped by a | | | | working in a more abstract style for a while, |
| person's experiences and the influences they | | | | and vice versa. You'll gain a greater |
| encounter in life. I could easily be a | | | | understanding of both. |
| jockey today if I had grown up around the | | | | |
| race track. Instead I grew up in an | | | | Da Vinci and Michelangelo were remarkably |
| environment where artistic and intellectual | | | | well-rounded individuals who could think |
| pursuits were encouraged. | | | | logically, practically and analytically, |
| | | | thanks to their activities in engineering, |
| In it's most basic form, the desire to create | | | | architecture and the sciences. They applied |
| art is all that's really needed in the | | | | these skills to their art, and the results |
| beginning. But to pursue art as your life's | | | | speak for themselves. I can think of no |
| work, to be a "serious" artist, requires a | | | | better proof for my contention than of these |
| well-rounded foundation, one built upon a | | | | two extraordinary men. |
| broad range of knowledge and experiences. | | | | |
| | | | I think it would be helpful now to address |
| Art reflects the world around us, and often | | | | the merits of being a formally trained |
| the world within us. The old advice to | | | | artist, as opposed to being a self-taught |
| "paint what you know" is certainly valid, but | | | | artist, such as myself. There can be no |
| just what do you know? Most take this maxim | | | | doubt that a school trained artist has a |
| to mean that you must paint or draw your | | | | considerable advantage over one self-taught; |
| backyard, your neighbor or your dog. I | | | | you have someone knowledgeable to ground you |
| "know" these things too, but I also "know" | | | | in proper technique and help you to correct |
| history, literature and mythology. I have | | | | your mistakes. The self-taught artist must |
| traveled in a number of countries; I have | | | | go to great effort to be as constructively |
| been in the military. I know my life, and I | | | | critical of his work as he can, concentrating |
| know something of myself, too. This | | | | extra effort on the areas in which he is |
| knowledge is reflected in my work. | | | | weak, something that will be difficult for |
| | | | some. |
| Writers are encouraged to write as much as | | | | |
| possible from their own experiences so that | | | | But I think all students are ultimately |
| it sounds authentic. Why should a visual | | | | self-taught; no one can make the effort for |
| artist be any different? | | | | you. And I have seen many works by |
| | | | academically trained artists that are so |
| The wider the range of your knowledge and | | | | formulaic that they look like they came out |
| experiences, the deeper and broader your art | | | | of a paint-by-the-numbers kit. The |
| will become. Exposure to great works of | | | | self-taught student may fall into improper |
| literature and philosophy have given me new | | | | practices if he isn't careful, but he may be |
| ways to look at life and the world, as well | | | | freer in his artistic expression than his |
| as giving me ideas for new artwork. It has | | | | school trained friend. Keep in mind that Van |
| allowed me to see how others have viewed | | | | Gogh was largely self-taught, receiving only |
| these things before me. Some artists have | | | | minimal classroom instruction. |
| been optimistic; others cynical; but every | | | | |
| age has had both optimists and cynics, | | | | I don't want to scare anyone away from |
| demonstrating a continuity in human affairs. | | | | pursuing art; as I said before, all you need |
| Both art and psychology tell us that whatever | | | | to start with is the desire to start. But |
| you feel, others have felt the same way you | | | | gradually, bit by bit, you may find that |
| have. The more you read and study, the more | | | | expanding your sphere of knowledge and |
| you'll see this too. | | | | experience will improve the quality of your |
| | | | work, and your life. This all reminds me of |
| The more well-rounded a person you are, the | | | | the criticism that students have perennially |
| finer an artist you'll be. It's | | | | made -- why should I study geometry, French. |
| "cross-training" at its most intellectual | | | | Latin, etc., when I'm going to wash dishes or |
| level. This also applies at the more | | | | mow grass for a living? You're right -- you |
| technical level, when developing the actual | | | | don't need these studies for everyday |
| skills for creating art. To create fine art | | | | accomplishments. But creating fine art is |
| requires mental focus, patience, discipline, | | | | not an everyday accomplishment --it is an |
| superb hand-eye coordination, well-honed | | | | extraordinary endeavor that requires |
| decision-making and problem-solving skills. | | | | extraordinary abilities. I hope that my |
| It requires you to be a good student, one who | | | | thoughts here can be of help to you in |
| knows how to study and practice. It also | | | | developing these skills. |