I taught elementary school art for 35 years. Over all, it was very rewarding. The youngest typically dive right in and have a ball. As they get older, usually around 5th grade, they become more and more critical of their artwork. They didn’t like mistakes. They seemed to think (and I’m sure this reflected opinions from their parents) that artistic ability was something you were born with. You either were an artist, or you weren’t. It had to come easy. Struggle, making mistakes, starting over... no way! Do you remember the Disney cartoons with a paintbrush that flowed over a paper and the scene just appeared like magic? That was what artists were supposed to be able to do. Schools offer instruction in media and technique, but teaching the creative process is tougher, and there is never enough time in a public school schedule.
this is interesting and resonated with me, i was probably one of the students you discussed here at some point in art school. it helped and hurt to learn my place in a global community/competition versus the middle-sized american high school I came from.
one point of critique: idk if it's just me, but the more dynamic gifs (i.e. all of them except for the first two) are really distracting while trying to read on mobile... I had to scroll them out of view to be able to digest your words.
I knew I wasn’t that good but wanted to be, so was open to trying things. It was inspiring to see how everyone else worked. And to bumble into happy accidents that resonated with our august faculty.
I remember a guy with a philosophy degree and bad drawings in class trying to use rhetoric to persuade to our teacher--a Lucien Freud level artist--that the student’s pitiful drawings were in fact, works of genius. It was extremely cringe to watch as the fellow had no self awareness or taste. Delusional is exactly the right word.
Hi, Ben. I know the kind of student you have described and I often wonder what happens to them later in life. They have gotten away with convincing others of their skill or prowess through clever tricks long enough to believe their own nonsense and when this fails, they are lost and it's very late to start applying themselves. Not a great situation.
Great post Kyle. Teachers who recognize this and push people at all levels are very impactful. You do that in teaching about art, and your writing.
I consider myself a life long learner and I eventually stopped comparing myself to others. My art is my art. As Rick Rubin said in his book. "Put your art out there. The universe decides." I feel like I improved when I broke myself down to the basics and invested time in "rebuilding my swing" as they used to say in baseball.
I can relate, Scott - yes, yes. I’m going back to basics every couple of years and it always gives me new energy and sets me up for new breakthroughs …
A thought provoking post that is by no means restricted to drawing. I've been an expert downhill skier for many years. Then we took up free-heel telemark skiing and all of a sudden the mountain was huge again. What you are saying can be applied to any skill at all, from accounting to writing your first novel (an illustrated novel, of course!). As always, you've given me something to think about -- like when do you call it quits for something you're just not good at?
Thanks for this article Kyle, it resonate with me.
Regarding drawing I'm guessing I'm the third type of student; although...
I learnt the basic of drawing when I was a teenager, but I was surrounded by people much better at it than myself, so I always thought I sucked at it... Until (decades later) I picked up a class and realise I was not that bad; knowing the basics; I was doing a decent (and most of all boring) work. I thought I had nothing to learn, yet knowing the abyssal void of my ignorance in the field...
Drawing is fun, but I always do the same thing again and again. I know there is more to it, this is why I'm going back to basics (I love my iPad for this). But it is sooooo difficult. I need to practice more.
I thank you for your streams btw, they are so helpful and inspiring.
I hope I will leave this "plateau" I'm stuck in and grow my skills.
This article is a first good step, now I know that what I learnt so far will not be lost. And you're right, your article doesn't only apply to drawing, but to all the creative (and less creative) fields.
I taught elementary school art for 35 years. Over all, it was very rewarding. The youngest typically dive right in and have a ball. As they get older, usually around 5th grade, they become more and more critical of their artwork. They didn’t like mistakes. They seemed to think (and I’m sure this reflected opinions from their parents) that artistic ability was something you were born with. You either were an artist, or you weren’t. It had to come easy. Struggle, making mistakes, starting over... no way! Do you remember the Disney cartoons with a paintbrush that flowed over a paper and the scene just appeared like magic? That was what artists were supposed to be able to do. Schools offer instruction in media and technique, but teaching the creative process is tougher, and there is never enough time in a public school schedule.
this is interesting and resonated with me, i was probably one of the students you discussed here at some point in art school. it helped and hurt to learn my place in a global community/competition versus the middle-sized american high school I came from.
one point of critique: idk if it's just me, but the more dynamic gifs (i.e. all of them except for the first two) are really distracting while trying to read on mobile... I had to scroll them out of view to be able to digest your words.
Sometimes, we find ourselves a big fish in a small pond and this can hinder our growth when we try to swim outside of those waters.
Thanks for the comment and also thanks for mentioning the gifs. I can see how they are distracting on the smaller screen. This is helpful!
I knew I wasn’t that good but wanted to be, so was open to trying things. It was inspiring to see how everyone else worked. And to bumble into happy accidents that resonated with our august faculty.
I remember a guy with a philosophy degree and bad drawings in class trying to use rhetoric to persuade to our teacher--a Lucien Freud level artist--that the student’s pitiful drawings were in fact, works of genius. It was extremely cringe to watch as the fellow had no self awareness or taste. Delusional is exactly the right word.
He dropped out not long after.
Hi, Ben. I know the kind of student you have described and I often wonder what happens to them later in life. They have gotten away with convincing others of their skill or prowess through clever tricks long enough to believe their own nonsense and when this fails, they are lost and it's very late to start applying themselves. Not a great situation.
Thanks for reading and for sharing this.
Great post Kyle. Teachers who recognize this and push people at all levels are very impactful. You do that in teaching about art, and your writing.
I consider myself a life long learner and I eventually stopped comparing myself to others. My art is my art. As Rick Rubin said in his book. "Put your art out there. The universe decides." I feel like I improved when I broke myself down to the basics and invested time in "rebuilding my swing" as they used to say in baseball.
I can relate, Scott - yes, yes. I’m going back to basics every couple of years and it always gives me new energy and sets me up for new breakthroughs …
A thought provoking post that is by no means restricted to drawing. I've been an expert downhill skier for many years. Then we took up free-heel telemark skiing and all of a sudden the mountain was huge again. What you are saying can be applied to any skill at all, from accounting to writing your first novel (an illustrated novel, of course!). As always, you've given me something to think about -- like when do you call it quits for something you're just not good at?
Thanks for this article Kyle, it resonate with me.
Regarding drawing I'm guessing I'm the third type of student; although...
I learnt the basic of drawing when I was a teenager, but I was surrounded by people much better at it than myself, so I always thought I sucked at it... Until (decades later) I picked up a class and realise I was not that bad; knowing the basics; I was doing a decent (and most of all boring) work. I thought I had nothing to learn, yet knowing the abyssal void of my ignorance in the field...
Drawing is fun, but I always do the same thing again and again. I know there is more to it, this is why I'm going back to basics (I love my iPad for this). But it is sooooo difficult. I need to practice more.
I thank you for your streams btw, they are so helpful and inspiring.
I hope I will leave this "plateau" I'm stuck in and grow my skills.
This article is a first good step, now I know that what I learnt so far will not be lost. And you're right, your article doesn't only apply to drawing, but to all the creative (and less creative) fields.