The Self Taught Artist Myth
Wilder days
I’m trying to update my bio, and I am faced with an expression I don’t like – “self taught artist”. It’s not that I mind people knowing that I don’t have a formal art education, it’s that we all learn from others, and I certainly have. I didn’t teach myself how to extend my paints using mediums, or how to mix colour, or how to apply principles of design to create stronger work. I learned these things from other artists, as we all do.
My tuition is self-directed – that is I’ve chosen to follow certain artists, learn from them, read certain books, listen to certain podcasts, take this course or that (and I’ve taken a lot of courses!), but to date I am not “self-taught”. Mostly.
I do love to experiment – and this is where I learn the most valuable things. In my studio, on my own, taking risks. What I like and what I don’t, what works and what doesn’t, what might happen if I take a sander to an area of paint I don’t like or apply one material over another in a new way, or use “new” colours (new for me – it’s all been done before). I say to my self “what if…” and then I do it. I don’t go online to ask anyone’s advice or guidance, I don’t worry about the consequences of “ruining” my art – I just do it. I fail – and I make great discoveries too.
I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the single most valuable part of my art education. It’s not about techniques or results, it’s about being truly authentic and growing as an artist. It’s about being unique because I’ve thought of something without being prompted and done it (even if it’s been done before the way I do it is different because I’m different). Experimentation and exploration is the only way that I can truly be “me” as an artist.
So, I have made a little resolution for 2024 … I’m not taking any art courses. Not a workshop, no online courses, no “guided” sessions (never have been fond of them anyway). I admit I did sign up for a January workshop just before Christmas as a way to kickstart the year, but I’ve decided to ignore it – to ignore the influence of another artist and another online course that I do not need. Don’t get me wrong – I love learning. But this year, I’m going to learn about art from me. That is something I need to do. I’m going to look inside and explore and experiment and just keep going and see where it takes me….
I’m going to make a lot of mistakes, and probably a lot of bad unfinished paintings, but I am going to learn. And at the end of this year, I think “self-taught” will feel more real to me.