Comments on: Florence, Italy, from 1300 to 1600 http://thetalentcode.com/2009/03/30/florence-italy/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:43:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Diane Farr http://thetalentcode.com/2009/03/30/florence-italy/comment-page-1/#comment-697 Diane Farr Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:02:14 +0000 http://dev.thetalentcode.com/?p=63#comment-697 I'm so glad that the visual arts were briefly covered in this book. More than any other skill area, there seems to be a perception that visual artist "just create things", almost magically, maybe because of the overemphasis on self-expression and underemphasis of skill development over the past couple of decades in art schools and the contemporary art scene. But just as with developing skill in a sport or music, skill in the visual arts comes from great instruction and endless practice. And there ARE some art schools (like the Academy of Art University in San Francisco) that continue to teach skill based art (with a disproportionate number of successful graduates, particularly in the area of contemporary realism). And there is a growing number of ateliers across the country that teach a traditional skill and drawing based curriculum. It would be great to include information about these schools and ateliers on the website, in speaking engagements, or any follow-on work to the book. I’m so glad that the visual arts were briefly covered in this book. More than any other skill area, there seems to be a perception that visual artist “just create things”, almost magically, maybe because of the overemphasis on self-expression and underemphasis of skill development over the past couple of decades in art schools and the contemporary art scene.

But just as with developing skill in a sport or music, skill in the visual arts comes from great instruction and endless practice. And there ARE some art schools (like the Academy of Art University in San Francisco) that continue to teach skill based art (with a disproportionate number of successful graduates, particularly in the area of contemporary realism). And there is a growing number of ateliers across the country that teach a traditional skill and drawing based curriculum. It would be great to include information about these schools and ateliers on the website, in speaking engagements, or any follow-on work to the book.

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