Art Instruction-Who does it and why? I really want to know!!
I am interested in who and why artist teach representational painting? What are your feelings about the types of student you attract? Do you teach privately or in a school or both? Do feel that your student achieve success in taking your classes/workshops? What if anything would you want to improve on with regards how students learn, how classes are configured? I want to learn everything that you are willing to tell.
Knowing --Art of Learning 
Hi Bob
I taught representational art because people asked me to “show them how I did that” and it grew from there. I guess it was the challange and I know I have learned by having to teach. It was some of the happiest years of my life………sharing the golden thread and watching the wonderment in the eyes of ordinary people doing otherwise ordinary things………..I guess that is the simple answer to why I taught for 25 years. I felt I wanted to share my excitement for painting. A better question for me is why I stopped teaching. I think it was because I was running out of time to say all the things I thought I wanted to say in paint……….still haven’t figured that one out…but I’m having a wonderful ride and enjoying the journey.
Your painting buddy……
Bonnie Anderson
October 19, 2006 at 12:40 am
Hi Bonnie, thanks for checking in. Did any of your students continue and go on to have a career as an artist? Are you still in touch with any of them?
Bob Martin
October 19, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Lots of my students went on to become art teachers and some got their degrees and yes we do keep in touch. The artists I know that are making their living with their paintings are fellow painters from the American Academy and the Palette and Chisel….Hard for me to say where the teaching begins and ends as it’s all an overlapping learning process. I always felt the job of my school which I thought of as fine art for the part time painter was to help break down the process of seeing drawing, values and color. I did it by keeping the student in charcoal as long as possible by having them work from life on objects and casts. Then they did a color wheel and then a limited and full color palette.
They worked both from life and photos. It was all to train there eye. We had classes in composition, portrait, still life etc……………I hired instructors to teach watercolor, pastel, pencil etc.
I had visiting artist fly in to do week long workshops.
They were made aware of the masters and knew that most had classical training before they ran with their on style…..But I encouraged experimentation. We can talk about this more. It was a good school but I didn’t have anyone full time. I have a crude teachers manual that I wrote 30 years ago that I can show you. I don’t know if it was the right way to teach but we all enjoyed the journey.
Why are you asking? To be continued……….
See you tomorrow………………Bonnie
Bonnie Anderson
October 20, 2006 at 1:14 am
Hello my love–how are you—since we have talked or visited some 20 yrs ago–I have a bfa and love art in all forms–however i use all mediums except oil—my majors are film and animation and digital media– minor in graphic design–went to a great art school and came out very artistically rounded–I thinking about art therapy masters–I am focusing on creating spiritual art-as I am studing for ministry and how to use art for the uplifting and motivational forwarding of humanity–visually , cinematically and written-as soon as I re set my computer stuff–I will send some of my work samples to you–also do web site consultations–and web design–so I am working on my site design–should have been up ages ago–I love you madly as always–how and where is Sandy?–let me hear from you–I would teach art to children and did while I was in school–reason being because there is untold joy available if you have the patience and artistic temperment(smile)–and all things in the world are predicated on art–with GOD as the Master artist–my point of view of course–well some more love–God Bless you eternally—Marlene
marlene elizabeth fain
January 18, 2007 at 6:49 pm