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Originally Posted by John Reidy
Don't you think number 23 should be - What are the drawbacks to learning in an academic setting?
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Well, the question is what it is. I will say it's very easy to list the drawbacks to learning to create "art" in an academic setting, the most obvious is the fact they don't teach you HOW to make "art." But, you do learn other things and some of them are quite useful. I find my art history classes are having a profound impact not just on the "why" of making art, but actually on the "how," as well.
Right now, I'm in a 19th Century French Art and Culture class. I never knew many of the figures in French academic paintings are done after sculptures. This is why so many of them have similar poses. More importantly though, I never knew one could study the human body so intensively as to be able to paint it from memory, or to turn stone into flesh. There are so many possibilities being opened for me just from the introduction of this information into my knowledge bank. (Not that I ever expect to be able to create a realistic, naturalistic body from memory. I have a hard enough time when there's a body sitting right in front of me! But, you never know.)
Many people might have discovered this information through their own studies, and I might have too, one day, but just learning HOW the old guys did it is really helping me to know it can be done. (Not that I've learned any of the nitty gritty get in there and do it stuff. I'm talking big picture.) Does that make sense?
Here's something to make note of... in this class we are studying David, Gericault, Ingres, Delacroix, Bouguereau, etc., along with the Impressionists. Does that shock anyone? There was a time when Bouguereau's name would not have been uttered in modern academia. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe in another 50 years they'll really teach artists how to make art in public school? Nah. I doubt it.
Anyway, I rant all the time about not being taught HOW to do anything in my studio classes, but my art history classes make up for, at least, some of that.
Another advantage of the academic setting, it has opened my mind a bit. Even if I don't like a lot of what I see, it does loosen up the thinking joints!
Now, would I recommend anyone who wants to be an artist attend university? Heck no.