I always loved school, but I didn’t love getting an F in high school art. Now that I’m gearing myself toward making art, I am eager to learn and improve. I’m also eager to be financially prudent.
So it’s back to school for me, with my own art school curriculum.
I adore this concept of earning my A from Rosamund and Benajmin Zander’s wonderful book The Art of Possibility.
Current favorite podcast: Design Matters by Debbie Millman.
Books resource: Denver Public Library, for which I am eternally grateful, otherwise I’d be penniless from buying so many books. Check out more books in my art school reading list.
Other specifics:
- Daily sketching
- Weekly urban sketching excursions
- Weekly illustrated column at Original Impulse blog
- Weekly Friday art show and share
- Continued learning about processing for digital sharing
- Monthly meetings with art buddy
- Continued absorption of the wonders of the world and openness to juju, guided by intuition and enthusiasm.
How do you focus your ‘side project’ work? Do you use the frame of a curriculum or something else? Share in a comment below, and if this article inspired you, share it with your friends with one of the buttons below.
This is awesome! I love it. I didn’t fail in art classes but I certainly never got an MFA. I’ve been feeling the winter blah’s and like I’ve lost the Juju. Something like this might be just thing I needed to get me jump started again. I need something to inspire curiosity and excitement in my own process. Thanks for sharing!
Sherrie,
I did take art classes as an adult, not at university but at adult education courses. Some were useful, some weren’t. I think the thing – for me now – is to just keep practicing.
I’m sorry to hear your juju has gone into hiding under the winter doldrums. Let us know here if you do decide to develop your own curriculum. Remember what I wrote in last month’s Impulses about your creative edge – that usually engages our inner artist and trumps the inertia.
If not a curriculum, what might feel right for you now to spark your curiosity and excitement?
Outstanding idea! Although I’ve worked as both a teacher and an instructional designer, my own learning never seems to follow a predetermined path. Congratulations on not giving up on art. A local teacher I like very much is Judith Cassel-Mamet. She runs monthly art meetups in Denver/Boulder.
Thanks, Dixie, I’ll search out Judith.
You’ll notice that my curriculum is focused but also loose. The main thing for me is to feel a sense of focus re: what I am studying and want to learn and also that I complete projects. I’m so excited about so many things now I want to have a sense of structure and not all over the map flakiness.
I will never give up on something I love even when naysayers rain on my sketchbook!
Can I join your art school?
Yes, Donna! Share your curriculum on your blog and post a link here!
P.S. Any tips for me to try to do some sketching every day in Vilnius? Should I bring anything more than my sketchbook, watercolor pencils, black marker, and a water brush?
Yes, keep it simple and keep your sketchbook with you all the time. It’s great when waiting for the bus, for food to arrive, while on the bus, everywhere.
I am reading a lot of art and design books that spark me to DO IT. Specifically Danny Gregory’s recent An Illustrated Journey is just lighting my fire like crazy. Seeing these artists’ pages and reading about their process is SO inspiring. Almost too much!
If you have any books around of people’s sketchbooks or journals and that inspires you, take a peek before you leave. And then go and just have fun with it.
I’ve been looking at Once Upon a Time in Lithuania. I can actually believe that I could make some of the simpler types of sketches myself.
http://www.davidpaulbooks.com/15.shtml
And I have a little, very basic how-to draw book. Beginner’s mind. I need to just let myself be a baby and take baby steps! And not be afraid to share or publish my art even if it seems primitive to me!
Yes, Donna, let this just be for you. Just for fun. That’s how I started – as a way to calm my mind, to stay focused when I wanted to fidget and to just feel playful.
TOTAL beginner’s mind.
And I have always enjoyed your drawings. You did a lot of cool visual journaling/planning last year. Nothing to be afraid of!
I love that you are sharing your sketching and your curriculum! I am checking out some of the books on your list. This “art school” could be a good addition to your FWF! Sketching and writing!
I love this idea!
This post really spoke to me – I love the way you organized this to move ahead with what you are doing. This is better than just haphardly going from thing to thing. I started back taking classes with my long time teacher – I should have waited until Spring because work has been so crazy. But – I’ve enjoyed it anyway. I need to organize a reading list – I have a stack – you gave me inspiration to get organized and get a plan.
Vickie,
Thanks for letting me know this is helpful to you! If you’re like me, it’s so easy to bounce around from one exciting thing to the next. Having some structure helps.
For me, another step that I need to nudge myself to take is to make notes on my reading. I consume SO many books and it’s easy to just gobble them without deeper reflection. I’ve got my classroom notebook where I can take notes about the things that strike me.
I’d love to see your reading list – could make an interesting blog post for you! 🙂
Love this Cynthia. I was just talking with my coach about creating a curriculum for Lisa the Artist…so the timing of your inspiration is so perfect for me. Thank you foe sharing. I’d love to be your art buddy…if you’re still looking for one. You know where to find me.
Cheering you on & soaking in your inspiration,
Lisa
I love the serendipity of that, Lisa! For people who liked school, this is a great structure for self-study.
I’m always looking for art buddies, and I did find a mentor – I was scared to ask but I did it and he said yes!
I’d love to see your curriculum! Maybe you’ll post it on your blog and leave a link here for us to follow?
Absorbing your support and sending back cheers for you!
I love this idea, Cynthia! As soon as I saw it, I realized I could do that with my writing as well. Daily practice of our art makes us grow. We can encourage ourselves in beautiful ways. Thank you!
Thanks, Diana! Whatever it takes to stay both inspired and focused!
You have turned that ‘F’ into F for Fantastic, Cynthia.
That’s great, Julie! I love that reframe. 🙂
This is really great, Cynthia! I love the idea of a curriculum and I am totally gonna try it out. A little self-direction goes a long way. I’m gonna give myself that. Love the blog!
Hi Cynthia,
On the one hand, sorry to be so late even reading this, but on the other, it’s gratifying for me to see how much I’m slowing down, focusing on me. Awesome, wonderful project which sounds so rich with harvest potential! I’m always intrigued with “coincidence”, reading above your admiration for the Zander/Zander book, which sits prominently on a book shelf and has been a favorite and I’ve never run into anyone else who liked it. Been hanging with the wrong crowd.
Have fun in school!
The Art of Possibility is a wonderful book!
Maybe if you share the books you love on your blog, you’ll attract more of your right crowd. I love how books are a way to connect easily and quickly with people. I will never release my inner bookseller!
Thanks for the comment! I am having fun in school!
Can I simply say what a comfort to discover somebody that actually knows what they are talking about on the web.
You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
More and more people have to check this out and understand this side of your
story. I can’t believe you are not more popular given that you most certainly have
the gift.