My story: I was not an art school student, did not have
the luxury of going to college, and am mostly self taught. I was always
drawing as a kid and into adulthood.
As an adult, after my
children left home to further their own educations, a friend told me
about The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. I discovered they offered
classes there and eventually took my first class ever. It was a class
using acrylic paints, which I had a little bit of experience with.
That’s when I realized that classes aren’t about “teaching you how to
paint” or draw or whatever, but to inspire you, to share tid-bits about
the medium or materials and to interact with other artists of all levels
and backgrounds. That’s what I get out of classes.
It’s
been many years since I took that first class, but have randomly taken
workshops at other venues - using various mediums, with various artists -
on occasion when time, funds and life have allowed.
1. What do you see as the benefits to the path you took?
I think that going the route I took I did not have the pressure of
the regular classroom. And being of a more mature age, I was not distracted by trying to navigate a new life of freedom and adulthood as
one would have in college.
2. Were there drawbacks?
None
3. Did you get an art education to have an art career? How did that pan out?
No art education and I did not have an “art career”, but when I did
work, I was often able to work in a creative field: store and window
display, floral design, custom mural painting, holiday decor for upscale
model homes, etc.
All of these were positions that required
me to use artistic elements such as balance of color, size and texture,
contrast, color harmony, focal points, etc. as well as physical
placement of the subject so that it will be seen by the viewer.
4. Do you like managing your art focus on your own?
Yes. though I do look outside myself for inspiration, advice and suggestions from others.
5. Are there things you had to learn that you haven't used since?
Nope
6. What is something you WISH you had learned that you learned much later?
That there were classes out there in the world for adults.
7. What classes are you taking now to further your art knowledge and experience?
I have been enjoying weekly oil painting at Creative Brush Studio
in Manassas. It’s considered a class, but it’s more like a workshop.
Everyone works on whatever they want, at their own pace. Mary (the
owner/instructor) is there to give suggestions, answer questions and
then a lesson at the end of the class time. It’s a wonderful, friendly
environment and it makes me take at least that one day, for those few
hours, to do nothing but paint! A gift to myself.
From Brand-New PWAS Member Terry Sandin
Terry and his wife Cassandra just joined PWAS...
I am one of your new members - I only just joined. Your
email reminded me of my first years of painting and how much I enjoyed
it. I was really tracking to become a marine biologist or
anthropologist while gobbling up all the art courses I could at Oregon
State University. I was really tempted to pursue more artistic
endeavors...but - sometimes life
gets in the way...After graduation I was going to be drafted so I became
a naval aviator.
After Vietnam, multiple aircraft carriers, and the
cold war - I began negotiating treaties with the former Soviet Union and
nuclear testing agreements. Upon retirement from the Navy, 9-11 came
along and I worked in the counterterrorism world. All these kinds of
activities never allowed me time to pick up a brush. Just this year my
wife encouraged me to try and see if any creative juices remained - so I
began experimenting.
I knew nothing about exhibits or selling or even
other artists in the area. I started with acrylics and charcoal and
have been trying a wide variety of subject matter. My latest projects
have been a Spider, an impression of one of King Tuts Jewelry breast
plates, and a helicopter - all in work as we speak. I do have one
painting accepted in the Open Space Arts Center for their Spring Exhibit
that just opened (a butterfly - can you believe it). So, we will see
how it goes.
My
art career fizzled because of a myriad of reasons...Although I never
had any regrets about my art education - I always felt it helped me
relate to the people in the countries I visited and lived in. I saw
some of the finest collections of art in the world in all my travels.
So I consider my art connection essential to understanding fundamental
behavior and history of our fellow humans. (that's the combination of
anthropology and art coming out)
PS.
I admire the digital artists and expect that genre to explode in all
kinds of directions - It will become an immensely important technical
skill for today's young artist.
From PWAS Member from Mickey Winslow
I am Madelyn ( Mickey) Winslow and I have been a member of PWAS since I
graduated from Nova with a degree in Fine Art in 1980. I have been
drawing and painting since I was a little child & especially after
my Mom bought a Milton Bradley art kit for me. It had oil paints, water
color paints & drawing pencils in it and of course, paper and canvas
sheets. I had an aunt who saved paper for me when she found extra
sheets in her job as an office cleaner.
I was interested in dress design
& therefore; had hundreds of drawings of all kinds of models with
dresses on. I designed the dresses. So much fun! While stationed in
Japan for 3 years, I took an oil painting class with a Japanese Master
oil painter & loved it! After that, I studied with other painting
teachers here & at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town, Alexandria. We
had live models & there was a lot of competition.
In high school I
studied drawing & painting just as in college. I had one professor
of art at NOVA who taught Design & I loved that too. I was given a
scholarship to continue school at NOVA WHICH I did. I graduated Magna
cum Laud with an Associate Degree in Fine Art. I also won First Prize in
Painting in one competition we had.
I was privileged to be taught by
several art professors who were artists themselves & had had
exhibits - one having her art displayed at the Women's’ Art Museum in
DC. I spent a lot of time at the art museums in Washington, D.C.
including the Hirshorn when studying Design. I was able to substitute
teach at our local elementary school in art classes & started an “After School Art Club" at my church one day a week & had 35 students
per week & they loved it! I loved it too.
I continue to paint &
draw even now. I was a member of a private art gallery in old Town
Occoquan for a year and a half. Very enlightening. Art means a lot to me
& my favorite subjects to paint are lighthouses and animal
portraits and also flowers.
From PWAS Member Zee Berrios
Concerning your questions:
1. What do you see as the benefits to the path you took?
It was a two-fold path. As self-taught, I developed a lot of different techniques that made my art "unique".
As an art student, I learned all about what the art world was really
all about and the thousands of art expressions that existed.
The benefits of art education were many. Learning what made a
masterpiece, the history of art, the different styles, the different
techniques, the different mediums.
Getting work critiqued was a huge benefit. Seeing through the eyes of
others and learning from others helped in not being so self focused and
reaching out to others with your creations.
In art education we learned the difference between the types of paints and mediums that defined the path on what I do now.
2. Were there drawbacks?
As a self-taught artist, It took too many years to develop a unique
style. Missed the current styles and developments in art. Missed having
the fellowship with other artists. Was not able to have a steady
production of art pieces to share. Opportunities
to expose were limited. The art that was produced was less spontaneous
and more commissioned.
As an art student, I was too involved in learning what others did and getting confused on which direction to go.
3. Did you get an art education to have an art career? How did that pan out?
Yes, a bachelor's degree in fine arts and a minor in photography. But
it didn't pan out in art, so I also got a bachelor's degree in
Education.
Being an art teacher for middle schoolers, that "HAD" to take an
elective and were not really interested in art, ended up being more of a
social worker than an instructor, so I quit being a teacher.
As a photographer I was able to work as a free-lance photographer for
UPI and other organizations, beside securing a job as a manager in a
Photography Studio at a University Library. That job lead me to study
Library Science and become a librarian.
On the long run, after I retired from being a Librarian I went back to full-time painting.
4. Do you like managing your art focus on your own?
Yes, initially but later the input of others became essential in the development of what I do now.
5. Are there things you had to learn that you haven't used since?
Yes, how to produce engravings of all sorts, ... serigraph, wood cut,
linoleums, gouache, metal and gesso sculpting, (all art that is not
necessarily painting with a brush), charcoal and India ink drawing and
how to do "Fresco" murals.
6. What is something you WISH you had learned that you learned much later?
How to stretch and mount your own canvas, how to photograph an art
piece and how to price your work, the difference in paint types i.e.
permanent pigment vs. hue.... etc.
7. What classes are you taking now to further your art knowledge and experience?
None right now
From PWAS Member Donna Liguria
I am a self-taught artist. Do I miss not having an official art education? Probably a little bit of a Yes and some of a No. It's just not the route my life took. And I didn't have the student debt for college either. I did have a basic art class in high school and later took an oil painting class at Piedmont Community College (wish I remembered more about that!), but I would love to have had at least more on the basics on art history-appreciation, perspective and composition. I'm presuming that the art education drilled these subjects into your head - perhaps becoming second nature? I'd like to know that answer. But I am glad to have missed the building of my own canvases adventure.
Nonetheless, you can learn so much from the internet now, or from books. Like learning any musical instrument, it just takes practice! I do love looking up a topic on YouTube and watching various artists work a topic, their styles and suggestions. The trick is of course to not get lost in the zillions of videos available and lose hours of time. Been there done that. Sometimes I resort to my various and interesting art reference books on hand to lookup things.
Taking a local art class can be expensive but taking the time to attend a GREAT class given by an awesome teacher can really boost your art focus. And actually, I have learned a TON just by joining the Prince William Art Society (PWAS - my local art group) - I see doing that as an art education in itself as you work with various artists in a variety of capacities - workshops, guest speakers, art shows, galleries, etc., just by talking and asking questions. And occasionally I get to share what I know and have learned thus far! Example: The PWAS Artistry Spin Blog.
And a bit of a drop here, the Prince William Art Society does have plans to offer classes to our members too, so I am all over that!
For Further Reading
DIY Art School: A Complete Guide to Learning Art on Your Own
Art NTK - Need to Know
