1	Art Education By Lacey Lewis
2	To See My Work: www.lacey-lewis.com www.laceylewis.blogspot.com Unity Church of Overland Park Solo Show at the Spotlight Gallery in the Unity Church of Overland Park April and May 2006 Location: 10300 Antioch Rd. in Overland Park, KS. Lawrence Art Guild’s Art in the Park Date: May 7, 2006 Time: 10am - 6pm Where: South Park - Lawrence, 12th and Massachusetts
3	Purpose Assess the current state of art education at the university level. Review traditional methods of teaching and learning art. Highlight new opportunities for the art student in the form of workshops and ateliers. Offer advice for those seeking a university degree, and for those wishing to study seriously on their own.
4	Review of “Choosing Realism” To access the previous program, click here: Program Archive. Realism and expression: representation allows for a broad range of expressions and accuracy in communication.
5	"Rainbow" Rainbow Rising Sun Shannon, Age 3 Hans Hofmann Private Collection Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
6	Review of “Choosing Realism” The lack of general quality of modernist art and the absence of meaning especially to non-artist viewers combined with the frenzy for all things new and shocking has caused art to be viewed as a joke and for artists to be seen as juvenile or insane.
7	"“There must once again..." “There must once again be a distinct meaning to the term, "artist." It cannot be a point of pride if applied too liberally. We cannot expect others to respect it if we cannot distinguish ourselves from the average person by the quality of what we do, and by the seriousness and dedication with which we pursue our life's work.” From “Restoring Prestige to Our Profession” by Virgil Elliott
8	"The 20th century practically" The 20th century practically destroyed five hundred years of carefully acquired knowledge in the art and science of fine painting… Times are changing though. There is a great groundswell of interest on the part of the young in traditional painting and accurate drawing. The discipline will take twenty to fifty years before it gets back to the point where it was in about 1880. After that, watch out! Most of the great works are yet to be done. - Bill Whitaker
9	Current University System Since the broad acceptance of modernist ideas, traditional formal art training has been deemed unnecessary. Artistic ideas are studied in a void, such as with color theory. Sometimes the meaning of a skill has changed; a drawing class now often consists of exploration of dry 2D media, where as it once referred to the skill to produce a likeness or representation of something. The idea that art is subjective has lead to less focus on clear goals and more ‘exploration’ and concept art.
10	Education Cycle
11	Those Who Can’t… “The most hopeless student I ever had was a retired art professor who had a PhD in art history and an MFA degree. He came to me to learn how to paint, but he couldn't learn how to do that because he couldn't draw either. Furthermore, he could not learn. He lacked the ability to visualize in three dimensions, also to read simple shapes and copy them accurately onto his paper. He had taught art for 35 years in a university. I have to wonder how anyone could have learned anything from him. MFA means MASTER OF FINE ART. How much sense does it make to bestow that honor on someone who cannot even draw, and then give him a teaching position for 35 years?” Virgil Elliott
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13	What I learned after college I studied paintings by artists I admire. I read instructional books by skilled artists and accounts by or about masters. Artist forums are a great place to learn and ask questions. I sought critique by accomplished and able artists. Basically, I live, breathe, and think art constantly.
14	Informal Survey of Artists Those with a formal art education: 16/30 or 53% said that their art education had a large impact on their current skill level. 11/30 or 37% said that their art degree was a wise investment. Those with no formal art education: 6/30 or 20% say they regret not pursuing a formal art education. 0/30 said they planned to go back to school to study fine art. 19/30 or 63% say they attend artist workshops. 9/30 or 30% say they think art education is somewhat worthless.
15	"“We had figure drawing..." “We had figure drawing class, but if we tried to paint or draw realistically we were mocked. One teacher would chant "Inchy by inchy, Leonardo DaVinci..." while circling your easel, the rest of the class would join in, until you stopped any attempt at representation. Unless you happened to come into a class with a similar style to the teacher the teacher would most likely never speak to you. There were two or three exceptions, and the drawing teachers were less dogmatic than the painting teachers. But I came out of six years there with absolutely no idea how to be an artist, or make art other than abstract, nonobjective stuff. I struggled with the effort of trying to merge what I was taught at Pratt with what made my heart sing until I no longer had any desire to paint anything. ZERO!”
16	"“Then," “Then, eleven months ago, I had an awakening. I began quite small, representing very simple objects. Not really paintings, no concept or story. Just a feather, wood, stuff like that. I found the Cennini forum in September, and was invited into OAG a few months later. What am I doing now to learn? I am exploring my materials in great depth, using different mediums, improving my drawing, studying various painters' work, etc. Whatever steps I can take in order to learn I take. But there are two key things which are much more important to me than all the others. The first is that I am working to improve my ability to see, not scan. The second is that I am attempting to eliminate all thoughts about what it is I am seeing. In other words, I want to erase any thoughts or associations with whatever I am seeing, in order to see it as purely as possible. ”
17	"“What I am seeking..." “What I am seeking to learn now is accurate, dynamic drawing, and control of values, chroma and hue in paint.” -Richard Murdock
18	Logical Progression in Building of Skills
19	Student Copying a Bargue Plate
20	Cast Drawing and Painting
21	Full Color Still Life Painting
22	The Atelier For a list of ARC approved Art Schools, Programs and Workshops, go to www.artrenewal.org Setting can range from an apprenticeship in an artist’s studio to a small classroom setting with individualized attention from maters in the field. Focus on logical, traditional, effective methods of learning and building of concepts. Often self-paced, or “systematic progression” as opposed to completing grade levels as a class group. Ateliers with special focus: one may focus on the figure, while another may focus on still lives, and while one may use techniques from the 16^th and 17^th century while another is based on the 19^th century Academic tradition.
23	Artist Workshops Workshops with a particular artist: browse workshop listings or even ask artists whose work inspires you if they offer workshops. Focus on certain skills: assess your areas of weakness and find workshops that focus on strengthening those areas. Benefit from the variety of styles and techniques used by individual artists.
24	For Those Seeking a Degree Gaining credit through portfolio reviews, credit-by-examination, and/or correspondence courses. If choosing a university or art school, look critically at both the work of the teachers and the work of the students. Pick a school where teacher and student portfolios show the kind of work you want to accomplish. When you find a good teacher, get to know him/her as best as possible and seek independent studies. Student activism: talk to teachers and administrators about what you want and give examples of the curriculums you are interested in and institutions that utilize them. Take control of your own education and make sure you get what you need either from the school or on your own!
25	Suggestions for Self Study Spend lots of time at the library! Study reproductions of good art. Look for instructional/informational books about your subject and medium. Look at good art as much as possible in museums, galleries, or online. Observe the world with your eyes. Connect with other artists and embrace constructive critique. Online resources: www.wetcanvas.com www.artrenewal.org Goodart Yahoo Group Cowdisley Yahoo Group www.art-video.com
26	Thank You for Joining Me! Please join me at Lawrence Art Guild’s Art in the Park where I will give a live demo. Date: May 7, 2006 Time: 10am - 6pm Where: South Park - Lawrence, 12th and Massachusetts