An Education in Art

An Education in Art


There are many things about the world of art that disappoint me. Whilst I am somewhat new to it, and some would say inexperienced, I believe my thoughts and opinions are well founded. The attitudes and undercurrents present in the art industry are realised only when you become immersed in it, and whilst an onlooker may understand the values and prestige set in this world, they can't truly comprehend how many rules, regulations and glass ceilings an artist must adhere too. Rules and regulations? Surely the subject at school we chose to get away from the rigidity of maths and science couldn't possibly hold such restrictions. Indeed, we always envisage an artist to be messy, disorganised, quirky, sometimes even outrageous - turns out the true depiction of an artist is a little further from this myth than you imagine.

 I was fortunate, my art career started in my early teens when I began sketching animals for people in school, at the local stable and friends of the family. This only came after a drastic move forced me into social isolation and to occupy my time I drew the things in life that intrigued and interested me. As my pencil skills improved, people started to notice and by the age of 15 I was being regularly commissioned to draw horses and dogs. Throughout high school I was fortunate enough to have a teacher that recognised my aptitude to art, though for most of it I was still confined to drawing baskets of fruit and shells. When I took my Higher and Advanced Higher (A level and As Level) art, she allowed me to draw and paint what I wanted whilst still guiding me as to what the examiners would look for in my work. Determined to pursue a career in Art, I decided that during my last year of high school I would take on a portfolio art course at a local college in order to aid my chances of a university place. This is where I believe I met the reality of an education in art.

 We were given an inventory of what we must buy in order to partake in the course: Watercolour paints, paper, brushes, acrylics, pencils - if you know anyone of an artistic inclination you'll understand how much excitement this shopping list would fill them with. The first day of college, armed with a toolbox of artistic delights I sat down in the white, easel adorned room to meet my painting lecturer. That day I learnt how to draw boxes with a ruler, quarter them and layer watercolour so that each quarter box was a different tone of the same shade of colour. And so this continued for a subsequent 2 weeks before we were allowed to venture into still life painting. Often the lecturer would lean over and tell me how "wrong" I was painting, it seemed to make him angry that I couldn't see how I was possibly "wrong" and disregarded my entire portfolio of previous work. Calling it irrelevant and ill executed. Three months this went on for before I eventually left the course. During this time I'd often come away feeling deflated and lacking in confidence. Another day I was wrong in how I applied my brush, another day of interpreting the world around me wrong. The lecturer held an exhibition of his own work which we were invited to. "You should all paint more like me" he remarked, "This is how to be successful in the art world", "Can you see how the paint has been applied, aspire to this standard in your own work."

 Whilst in high school I applied to Aberdeen School of Art, I went on to turn down an on the spot unconditional offer into their course. Whether it was fear of further art education that of which I had already been subjected to, or it was lack of confidence I can't quite remember. All I know is it was two years until I picked up a pencil with the intention of drawing again. During these two years I worked as a riding instructor, outside in all weathers, all year round, shoveling horse muck and collapsing at home every evening exhausted. On the run up to Christmas one year someone remarked on how they had seen artwork on my social media account. It was an album of my high school work that I had neglected. They asked me how much I charged for a drawing. Embarrassed, I came up with a lowly number and agreed I'd have a go at drawing something for them. By word of mouth one commission turned into 5, 5 turned into 20. Before I knew it I was taking time off from teaching kids to ride ponies in order to fit in my commissions. When I started to advertise the business my work rate increased exponentially, I set up a dedicated facebook page and watched my apparent business grow before my very eyes.

 It's coming up two years since I became fully self employed. My business, reputation and my work itself is thriving. Surely if I was so wrong a few years ago , why am I here today?
I often get asked if I can offer people advice on how to improve their work, how to use a medium and how to be successful. I am a firm believer that no one person can TELL you how to use your eyes, your hands, or your materials. They can suggest and open you up to a new way of thinking but no one should ever shut you down to one methodology. Art isn't about precision and accuracy for all. It's about interpretation, expression and learning - how can anybody dictate how you interpret the world around you, or how to express emotion, or how you should learn? Art in my mind is about re-creating something, a thought, a moment in time, a vision, a dream and allowing onlookers a snippet into your world. No other sphere can do that to the extent that art can. Not photography, not words, not music. S

So why are we allowing narrow mindedness in art education?
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22 comments

Hello Charlie,

Enjoyed reading the article above, I resonate very much with your experience. I have been recommended your creative work by artist Michael Forbes, possible to arrange a viewing? I have a small gallery exhibiting Michael’s work at the Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness.

Kind regards,
Taj Bassi
07939691058
tajbassi@hotmail.com

Taj Bassi

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