My response to a humbling question sent from an old student of mine.

The question: 

Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:08:45 -0600
Subject: Hello, how are you?
Hey Kyla,

Thanks for the wonderful note on my last exam. Much better than the crashing and burning plane...even if it did make me laugh. 

Right now though, I'm freaking out a little. I'm afraid of what being an "art major" means (or doesn't mean) in my mind.

Right now it seems that my work is always treated as part of a class, as something for a grade, an assignment, etc. etc. And that's not what art should be. I'm afraid that as I get further into this, I'll discover that I'm actually not that good at being an 'artist'. That I'm merely a good 'draw-er' or skilled with working with a certain material. Because I think that drawing is skill and as such, it can be learned by anyone with the time or drive. But there's step that takes a good drawing to the level of a work of art. And that's the level that I'm not sure I'm capable of reaching. Is this really something that art classes can teach me? Am I going to be pulled aside one of these days and hear, "oh hey, here's the secret no one's told you yet" and then just 'get it' and start making art that's...art? Because right now I look at what I do and I look at what others are doing and my work just seem to be drawings. They're "cool", or realistic, but they don't scream, "oh, Becca did that" when you look at them. They don't keep you looking, awe you, or really even hold your attention. What have I missed in the big art equation? Is there some point where it's supposed to click and my style emerges, etc. etc? I don't know if the other sophomore undergrads are starting to see this, too, but my lack of creativity is scaring me.

-B

My response: 

B, 

So nice to hear from you!

Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner. I don't use the wisc e-mail anymore, in fact, it's disabled. I'm happy to talk to you about this stuff. These are all good questions. If you want to talk over the phone, that might be more efficient, but I'll try to briefly respond here. Otherwise, please feel free to call me anytime on my cell.

Ok--To answer your question(s):

I truly feel that there are some things that you can teach in art, and there are some things that you can't. Certainly a creative sensibility is something that I believe (though many would argue it), is at least somewhat just a part of who someone is. I think it has something to do with how our brain works. Some people seem to make connections that are more subconscious or pre-lingual. That said, don't be too hard on yourself. I began art because it was what I was good at. I fell in love first, with my ability to render what I saw in front of me. It was skill that came naturally and easily to me. It started, in many ways, as simply a joy in copying what was in front of me. Eventually, however, I started getting board with merely copying. I still enjoy just sitting down and painting what is in front of me, but if you work enough, eventually, you start to want more. 

I can tell when I've hit a creative vein because I get excited about what I'm doing, I feel a drive that simply isn't there when I am just duplicating. Things become more intuitive, images arrive in my mind that I couldn't have come to through a merely intellectual process. Often, something pops into my mind and I just follow it, and the reasons or pseudo-logic reveal themselves after the work develops. Sometimes I don't see creative patterns or relationships in my work until years later, and only piece a creative lineage together in retrospect. 

If you have ever been doing artwork and felt a drive, an energy, then that is you tapping into your creativity. Sometimes it is hard to come by. I used to sometimes only listen to one song/album while I was working on a drawing or painting because I was afraid if I changed the music, it would break that spell. Lately, I haven't experienced a creative drive for a long time, and that is difficult. It always causes me to face the same questions that you are. 

You seem to be asking if art can actually be taught, I don't think it can be taught, but I do think that an artistic sensibility can be developed and learned, and that being in a creative environment and around things that inspire you is essential to that process. I think that certain skills and the "language" of art (brush work, materials, technical dexterity) can be taught. I don't think that someone can teach you to be creative, but that one can inspire your own creative sensibility. 

Before you freak out--this is how I've come to look at it: 

Art school, in many ways, is a frustrating load of bullshit. It is a field that is incredibly insecure about it's purpose and value. This is especially because deep down, I think most artists and art students feel the way you seem to feel--that is "what am I doing here? What am I actually learning? How can this possibly be worth the money". After all, how can you teach something that is so incredibly subjective, and, at it's heart, values most of all the creation of something totally new and individual. In that sense--the only art that we can "teach" is creative process and method. That is, we can teach processes, practices, mentalities, creative approaches, studio ethics, work ethics, but all of these strategies are all just a shot in the dark at an attempt to generate or inspire a truly individual process. They are the means, but not the end to art that hasn't yet been defined or realized, and that, by definition, simply won't exist unless you make it, and that is defined by you alone. 

The truth is, I don't believe art can be taught, but I do believe that art school and being in an artistic environment pushes you to be inspired, pushes you to keep making work, and puts you in an environment of (hopefully) creatively minded people. 

In a nutshell, I believe that skills can be taught, art cannot. Nonetheless, sometimes developing ones creative sensibility, at least in my own experience simply requires a lot of work. The more art you do, the more your creativity will develop. When I stop making art, it seems to go away very quickly. If you want to continue working as an artist, you will face these questions and insecurities your whole life. It is very difficult and sometimes I question the career path I've chosen. It takes work, and creatively, the more work you do (and that includes work that you do, and hate), the more you develop your creative sensibility. 

You are too young to have a "style", and though many may tell you otherwise, you are also too early in your art career to know what your work is "about". At RISD, we talked less about what our art was about, and spent a lot more time just doing art. 

As I side note, I want to add, that I was given a hard time constantly, and especially my senior year because I just liked rendering. I wasn't interested in content. I just painted faces. I painted 50 5"x5" faces for my senior show. Ultimately, however, my art grew from there. Just do what feels right. Content and creativity follow simply doing--working, working, working. 

Finally--the real question here is, what do you want from your art degree? Do you want to teach? Sell art in galleries? Illustrate? The answers to these question will help guide what art school means to you and what you get from it. 

Whew, that was a super long answer to a very good question. It was actually kind of fun for me to think the answer through. I'm sure you aren't the only one wondering these things. I know I certainly have. Please call me if you want to talk more, I can totally sympathize with your doubts, and these are good questions to ask. 

Best of luck with everything! Happy Holidays!

-Kyla.