Hello People
Here are my contrasting learning experiences, both from my first course at art school, and both on the subject of 'drawing'....
Bad Learning
My course tutor's approach to teaching was usually pretty harsh....
I knew at the time that he was trying to motivate us all to improve our drawing skills, as an essential part of becoming competent artists/designers. But his methods were hard to fathom, and he seemed intent on permanently confronting each of us with his own brand of devastatingly brutal honesty, and very little positive encouragement.
Each week we were set drawing assignments for the weekend and our work was scrutinised at the start of the next week. These 'crit' sessions were usually done in public, for the supposed benefit of the whole course group, around 15 students. More often than not they were excruciating for us all, the tutor's comments were usually highly critical, and underlined by sarcastic remarks.
As an example, during one of these sessions he was checking over my weekend's work on drawing 'negative spaces'. I had produced an accurate and detailed architectural study of the underside a 1960's concrete civic building, having spent a whole day sitting outside drawing in mid winter. My course tutor decided the best way to illustrate the point he was making was to take a fat black marker pen and quickly scribble all over my drawing, 'colouring in' the shapes.....
At the time I was devastated by the cruelty of this act, performed in front of my horrified fellow students. I felt humiliated, deeply depressed, and severely demotivated afterwards. Sadly these kind of feedback sessions were quite typical. In time however, we simply got used to his abrasive teaching style and the majority of us managed to learn some valuable lessons and successfully progress on to degree courses.
The advice that he was attempting to give was generally useful and valid, but the way in which it was delivered often cancelled any sense of benefit.
Good learning
As part of our 2 year course we also had regular drawing/sketching lessons with a tutor from the foundation/diploma course. For me these sessions were a sheer delight and totally inspiring.
We would troop off into town with the tutor, to an interesting location he had chosen, and then set ourselves down to draw what we saw.
As we worked he would come around the group and cheerfully talk to us each in turn, observing with interest what we were drawing, offering encouragement, positive criticism, useful tips towards improving our techniques etc etc.
He would also sit and draw something for himself, producing exquisite sketches/studies/details using nothing more than a ballpoint pen. His reasons were that he simply enjoyed it, and took every opportunity he could to practice.... his enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring, and life affirming. He was our tutor, but he was also one of us.
I cannot remember ever hearing him say a harsh word. Even when he was explaining why what you had done wasn't as good as it could be, it was always offered in a respectful and decent manner, which then inspired you to try again and want to do better.
His sessions always felt beneficial, and his advice was hugely helpful.
Summary
Both of these tutors taught me a great deal about the subject and practice of drawing, which I have continued to use ever since. A lot of the advice from my course tutor was, and still is valid, but his style of delivery made it very difficult to appreciate ... whereas the advice from my drawing tutor was enhanced by his helpful encouragement and enthusiasm ... and it's his approach to teaching that I've aimed to duplicate.
Thanks for reading it
Andrew
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