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Did you study art in school or are you self-taught?
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Message
Posted
As a self-taught artist, I was just wondering how my fellow artists in this community have started their journey into art. Are you self-taught or did you attend any type of art school / college?
If you don't feel like sharing this piece of info, that's perfectly fine. I hope you won't deem the question too personal.
Posted
I am self taught , as a child I sketched and continued to do so on and off throughout like . I started watercolour painting to annoy the Occupational Therapist who was constantly getting on at me to do something, as I was laid up with a spinal injury I though it would put her off, left hospital much later and never bothered to paint . About twenty years ago my daughter bought me a beautiful set of paints and the rest is history as they say. I do believe sketching was a big help as I was able to develop a scene and understood the concept of shading, perspective etc.
Posted
I did a one year Foundation Course at art college, but then took a break for a year and basically never went back. I followed other careers, had a family and only returned to art about 12 years ago. I did do a little on and off but not really seriously.
You will find Lucian, that this is quite a common theme here. If you read peoples biographies on this site, there are many who wanted an art career in their youth but for various reasons gave up for most of their working life, only taking it up again in middle age or even retirement.
I am now part of a small local art group which is quite casual, and basically we all gather to do our own thing, with criticism from each other and a little guidance but not much!
I did attend a more structured class for a few years, which taught me how to put a painting together. I find quite a lot of ideas and inspiration from this site, also friendly criticism and encouragement.
Edited
by Tessa Gwynne
Posted
I didn't go to art college/art school - on the other hand, it wouldn't be quite true to say that I was self-taught - I learned from other artists, one in particular, and from many, many books (including one called "Teach Yourself Painting for Pleasure", which was basically a cut-down version of a larger book by R. O. Dunlop, RA).
I still read a lot about painting, follow information on paint manufacture and technical developments, even read books for relative beginners - because I think it's useful to go right back to basics every now and then: in part, because we all need to be reminded of certain things, and in part because I quite enjoy finding the mistakes in other people's books..... some of which perpetuate the very same mistakes made nearly 100 years ago, because some writers make no effort to keep up with new information. But that's another topic.....
Posted
As you can see on my biography on this site, I was trained as an art teacher in the 60ties. After a few years, starting a family, I started my career in the administration of a school. After retirement, I bought a few English books and video’s about watercolour because that interested me most. As a child I was drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil or pen. So going to art school was logical. I am mostly interested in the famous English watercolour artists: Geoff Kersey, Ian King, David Bellamy….. but drawing with pen and ink is my favourite technique, starting immediately in ink.
Posted
I am self taught - apart from GCSE art at school many moons ago. However I’ve always loved to draw off and on when I could. Adult art classes for a few years led me to try different media, and discover pastels which I love to use, but it was only on retirement that I’ve had the time to really enjoy
my art. The internet has been great to watch videos and learn from other artists, and belonging to POL is a real bonus, for the friendly and supportive art community it brings together.
