Every
once and awhile someone will ask me why I teach, or do I like teaching. I
always hesitate because there are so many answers to those questions - all to
the affirmative.
I
love to teach because I love to paint and draw. The act of creating is so
exciting for me. Someone once remarked to me "You are a
compulsive painter!" To this end I must admit my guilt. Sharing
what I know and love is a joy and a responsibility to me. Passing this on
is a fascinating privilege, and I find joy in seeing different people at various
skill levels go through their personal stages of development. Some will
struggle more than others, but it's the right attitude that will see them
through every trial. It's not enough for the teacher to believe in
you. You have to believe in yourself and have the patience to learn.
One of my goals in art is to guide and encourage students from any level - beginner to advanced.
Painting well starts with the proper thinking. I realized many years ago
that I needed the right kind of mindset to learn and grow as an artist in my
chosen medium (aside from the obvious artistic training). Becoming a
lifetime student was the result of this attitude. It keeps you humble. (Not that
any of us ever has a reason not to be). Pressing on to new levels of
development, not to mention areas of discovery and creativity, are constantly
opening up to us as long as our minds are kept open.
There is so much to say and
too little space here for elaborating. I could write a book, and in fact I
am in that very process. If we are given a gift we should enthusiastically
share it with others when the opportunity presents
itself. I must admit that for some selfish reasons I teach. One
reason is that I personally learn so much from the experience. It helps me
to refine, review and get that much closer to mastering the basics of my
craft. I said it before but it's worth repeating: " you need to have
the love for learning in order to excel". My goal in general is to
teach the student how to think like a painter does and to develop an
understanding of technique. A logical approach to painting and drawing is
essential in order to continue to make
progress having the ability to teach yourself as well.
Finally,
teaching is a two way street. The student has to be willing to trust and
learn what the instructor has to offer in the way of knowledge and
experience. This is a journey for both of us. We should make it fun
or as a great teacher once enigmatically said, "Enjoy the struggle!"
(Don't
worry. It took me some time before I understood what he meant!)
