[Julie Gerleman]

I'm currently back at university to finish my fine arts degree. I dropped my program the first time because I had a chance to study with a 'neo-classical' painter outside of the university and I had become disillusioned with university classes. I mean, gee, I sort of wanted an education to go along with that degree! By leaving school and becoming and apprentice, I got it.

But what I found is a lack of degree of any sort narrows professional opportunities (BFA's are highly regarded in the graphic design sector, where I work), so here I am again, back finishing up my last 5 classes to finish up (albeit at a different, and as far as I can tell, even worse school which would have been hard for me to imagine). How I'll make it through this next year without busting blood vessels in my temples is anyone's guess. Lucky for me it's an open syllabus with students having entirely free reign over assignments and subject matter.

But you should have seen the look of perplexity on my instructor's face when I informed him that the rows and columns of little squares on my raw-umber washed canvas was a neatly organized study of skin tones I was planning on using as reference material for my paintings of figures and portraits I would be doing in his class. He thought it was a 'really neat' painting and I might consider using it as one of my actual paintings for the class. Good grief. He also seemed to have a hard time understanding that I intended - intended the palette to actually follow what skin tones you might see in real life. That I didn't necessarily want my palette to 'push the edge' or whatever.

To be fair, his landscape paintings are gorgeous and I could actually learn a lot from him about color - if I actively tap him for info. He might have just been shocked that one of his students values technique and study and realism. I don't know. But -- is it normal for a university painting instructor to not know who Nelson Shanks is? Or Daniel E. Greene? Or is it me; do I simply live on another planet?

Wow, I just ranted a blue streak there. Sorry 'bout that. Just frustrated and I feel sorry for the kids in my class who obviously haven't been given a good art education because their teachers didn't want to 'stifle their creativity'. Grr. Me, I got lucky. I never realized that till now, never was properly thankful for it, either. In my case it was my high school art teacher who was a stickler for technique and he taught us tons.

Oh, and Cynthia, I'm really, really happy this forum exists. I learn something here every time I visit. In fact, I think I just figured out how I'm going to avoid busted blood vessels for the remainder of the time I'm at school - check in here often.

Thanks, and thanks again.