How To Make The Right Choice Of Profession Of Art Teacher

By Author: Bimol Bee
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A worse scenario for an eager and enthusiastic art student in overcrowded art class with a mediocre teacher of art could be hardly imagined.

In short time the student faces the problem of loss. This may be explained by the reason of solving the problem of basics of drawing and painting, which is not as simple. Sometimes it happens that they are not taught at all!

Soon the student gives up, because of realising the thing that drawing and painting is just too hard. The student will search in the wrong way the fault with themselves often with the self generated concept that they can not posses enough natural artistic talent.

While the student feels himself the main culprit, the true cause falls at the feet of the art instructor and poor instruction.

This thing exactly happened to my wife.

My wife was born in Toronto Canada. She wanted to study fine art in America, and that was the reason she came here. It should be noted, that the tuition was terrible.

The classes of drawing and painting, my wife got, were taught entirely on the irresponsible method of "if it feels good go with it."

It ...
... was a pity, but my wife was the one, who wasn’t able to “feel” her way into

learning basics. They lie in the fact that she couldn’t learn how to draw in proportion, the use of colour and tone, how to sketch in charcoal, differences in working with oil vs. watercolors.

Changing her major was basically the only thing my wife could "feel" good about.

Nowadays hundreds of colleges and private art instruction schools exist and it’s very difficult to choose the right one. The school is right only when an art instructor will teach you how to draw and paint in a proper way.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to meet Larry Gluck. I once asked him about the right choice of an art school and instructor that is an integral part of becoming a better artist.

The person Larry Gluck is famous for his foundation of the world's largest fine art program.

He had a great experience in employing hundreds of art instructors for 33 years and teaching over 3,000+ students every week how to draw and paint. To choose an art teacher is concerned to be one of the most important tasks on the way to be the best. And this is his advice:

"I have summarised a few pointers on what to look for in a fine art teacher. I hope they help in your search for a good drawing and painting instructor.

1. Are you fond of the teachers work?

To respect the endeavours of your teacher is very important. You shouldn’t pay attention a lot on how objective he is about his work. The teacher will show his knowledge and teach you what he knows. The way he will teach you will be reflected in what he does.

On the other hand, it’s wrong to judge the instructor only by their artwork. Teaching art is much different from creating art. This may explain the fact that some teachers are very good as artists but awful as instructors.

The other teachers do not possess an intention to help students through the rough spots.

A real teacher should be smart enough to have a talent to merit teaching his subject, to find the right words to help you and see that you indeed learn. Only then teacher will be true master of his craft.

2. Are fundamentals the first thing your teacher stars with?

The process of learning needs a gradual approach. It is necessary to start with the most basic fundamentals and continue from there. The teacher should control the whole process. When you already possess a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals, the teacher assumes that. The less positive thing is when the instructor is not familiar with them enough in order to teach them.

For some teachers the process of using the arts fundamentals is automatic. This happens because they are involved in the arts for such a long period of time. This is a negative thing and it shouldn’t happen in the teacher’s experience, but still it does.

3. Do you improve your skills?

It is very important to be taught the fundamental skills one by one. If it is so, then the process of learning will bring positive result. The teacher should ensure that you master each one before going to the next. Only then your skills will improve.

But if it does not happen, then the reason is not you, but the instruction. A good instructor should be able to teach you to learn successfully.

4. Do you deal with being treated as an individual?

Each of us has his own strengths and weaknesses. If the teacher is master of his craft, he should realize this and each art student should be treated individually. The teacher, who has a lack of experience, will treat everyone the same or he will point out a few favourite students.

5. How many students are there in your class?

A big role plays the number of students in the classroom. If one instructor treats more then ten students, you won’t be able to benefit from the material he gave you.

As each of us is different and we all perceive the material differently, for you as a student should be an advantage to receive one-on-one instruction with the instructor.

6.Do you have a possibility to train with people you like?

Training with those people would be an obligatory experience for you. You would be able to see how they support each other, admire each others efforts, and are genuinely pleased to see other's progress.

This treating would also help you to meet new friends with whom you can also discuss the art form.

Communication in art causes growth in the artist.

7. You are tuned to hostility?

There is a thought among some teachers, that in order to spur the students on, a competition is needed among them. But it is wrong.

A competition will not help students, especially in the arts, but the teacher may feel less bored.

The only right decision is to be competing against your present limitations.

8. Do you feel safe in learning environment?

It is necessary for you to feel safe and secure in all learning environments.

When it comes to an art form where the stakes are so high and the intimidation factor can be so great? Then the learning environment plays a great role.

The presence of the feeling being intimidated while going to the class, may be not your but teachers fault, even in the case when the intimidation comes from other students.

Well-trained art teacher should be able to control the students and be responsible for their interacting in the classroom.

An overbearing manner of intimidating students is typical for some instructors.

There is a category of instructors who set themselves up as a major authority on the subject of art or want to show their talents as an example to all the students.

Some instructors dare even to favour a few students over others.

If this happens to you, the advise for you is to find a new art instructor.

9. Are you being criticised without help?

Being over criticised by your instructor can make you give up.

If you are criticised without instruction on how to improve, it won’t help you at all.

A competent art instructor should give you different tasks to do, instead of constantly pointing out what is wrong with what you are doing.

The progress of student is in his achievements, but not in defeats. You should feel better yourself, your ability, and what you are doing since you started the class. If not, change instructors.

10. Are you helped individually?

Perhaps here you could find some incomprehensible to you information, or some technique that is difficult for you to put into application.

Do you feel the teacher’s help? Is the art instructor prompt with the help but patient with handling your question or problem?

Is the teacher able to get to the root of what you are having a problem with and help you to solve it?

If he does not, than you are wasting both, your time and money.

If your skills are on the same level as before, your instruction is falling down on one or more of these points.

Check out one more time these ten tips and define exactly where the problem is. If you will find out that you cannot fix this by speaking with your teacher, it would be better for you to find a new art instructor.

All art forms are seems to be difficult at first glance. A competent teacher will show you how to improve your skills.

If you think that you won’t be able to cope with it, or you have not enough talent, only a well-skilled instructor will help you to overcome your fear and make sure that you learn to."

institute of art and design