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Hal is, on the most part, a self taught artist. Even though he was quite along in years and a artist of many years he decided to spend a few months at a academy.
Is it important where one trains?
I think it is interesting to notice that all the academies of today, in many respects, are not the same. In what way are they different? That depends on what one is looking for or what one is able to notice while looking. This principle on how we see can be applied on a artists work as well.
When searching for a academy where to study my main criteria was the students work. The question I asked was, how does the students work compare to the work of the instructor. Still before even asking the previous questions, I spent months and months in the library absorbing the works of the Old Masters trying my best to understand what it is they learn't. Then and only then I had some idea what one is to look for in a teacher. For my idea of what I thought is good art compared drastically with what the Masters expressed to be solid training.
I have heard it said that academy training, that is vigorous academy training, will stump an individuals creativity. This to me is a typical response of a individual that has no idea what they are talking about. It is like saying to a student of architecture 'you do not need to be perfect in your measurements for that will hinder your creativity'. It is my experience that with proper training and only then one has the tools and is able to express one self in any direction he or she wishes. Until then one struggles and limps not able to do what the heart desires.
If one is not able to attend a academy there is ways one can teach one self but it is a longer road that one must travel. Along the way there are many pitfalls and shortcomings one is not aware of being that one has not been trained to see. If one takes this road, for what ever reason, it is rare that such a one will ever reach his or her potential. I think it is important to understand this in order to calculate the cost. One does not wish to start building a house and has not calculated the cost.
This forum has many nuggets of gold and precious instructional materials. One will do well and profit in instruction if one is to invest the time and search for these precious nuggets. When I was in Downieville CA, panning and sniping for gold, this was some years ago while in my youth, my first lesson was to distinguish between fools gold and the real thing. Both shine, especially when in the light, but only true gold has any value. The next lesson was where I would look in order to find the nuggets. There are curtain rocks in the river, for example, that will expand and trap the gold, hold the gold. One lesson is to recognize these rocks and where they can be found. Like previously mentioned the road to teaching one self is a long and winding road and all uphill.
I will miss Hal and his wife and spending time with them has taught me many a important life's lessons. My sincere hope is that each finds what they are looking for in life. Don't forget to ask the question when you find it 'what will I do with it?'
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