I found out this morning that my favorite painting instructor, Nina Marshall, passed away. She was she an amazing artist and a damned fine teacher. She also lead wonderful critiques. She knew how to get everyone in the class to really see the works. Her critiques weren’t just about her own response to the work; in Nina’s critiques, everyone participated. That didn’t happen in some of my other studio classes, which I think is unfortunate. If you don’t learn how to look at your own art critically, how can you expect to progress and grow?
And, since I’m on the subject of favorite art teachers, I went a-Googling for Dan Fruits. He aggravated me no end, and, before we came to an agreement on How Things Should Be, he had me fleeing the studio in tears on more than one occasion. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Two of the many things I learned from him:
- Everything can become an excuse to draw.
- Do not get too attached to the preciousness of what you create.
Which brings me back to Nina B. Perhaps the most important thing I learned from her was that everything is underpaint. If you don’t like what you’ve created, then it’s obviously not done yet and needs another layer of paint. It’s easier to adopt this attitude if you’ve accepted Dan Fruits’ second tenet. And, really, it’s not a bad philosophy for life in general. The closet Buddhist in me likes that it allows for infinite do-overs.
So, Nina B., whatever you were painting, I hope you were able to finish it. And, if you weren’t, I hope you get a do-over.
red paper boat 