|
I can not agree with this more!
When I went to art school, considered a fine one, The Boston Museum School, the ghosts of Paxton and Benson had long fled. The school was in the full throes and still is, of abstract expressionism.
We did have still life set ups, figure drawing, and anatomy, but it was so vague, It was almost like the school felt it was under some obligation to dust off these old chestnuts and offer them to the students. More emphasis was placed on expressing yourself, just how we were able to do that without the neccesary skills was not apparent. Those of us ( me) that were interested in learning the more traditional forms of art were basically ignored and left to flounder. I went to the movies instead.
It took me a long time to learn anything, going to libraries, museums, anything to get any hint at how to draw properly, how to use paint etc.
There were no ateliers, no internet, then. I was young and figured that fine art was all this ugly stuff and that if I wanted to do what I loved I better teach myself. I did not even know what an atelier was!
There are so many wonderful workshops, schools and teachers today that can be taken advantage of.
A lot of the problems I see on this site, and encounter in my own work is a weak underpinning of basic good and thorough drawing skills.
Sincerely,
|