That is one of the most freeing, most beautiful statements I've ever read. It's from "The Path of Least Resistance" by Robert Fritz. Thank you Lorraine for recommending this book.
For the first 3 or 4 years of painting I was intimidated by painters that were schooled. I felt inferior. I felt like they knew the "right" way to paint and I was winging it. I felt like I would never be good enough - that no gallery would ever want my paintings. Fortunately, after years of practicing my craft I realize this is all a bunch of hooey.
In the early years of learning to paint I took workshop after workshop, gathering an arsenal of skills. I painted, scraped, sanded and glued. I drew and re-drew. I tried instructor after instructor wanting to learn what they knew. I wanted to paint like them. I wanted to know what they knew - paint like they painted. I was drawn to instructors that were schooled because they had what I didn't have.
Now I realize that the best way to paint is just like me.
As I consider whether to teach a class or two this summer, to Mr. Fritz's point, anyone can do this and in a way that is "right" to them.
I am grateful to all of my teachers who shared their knowledge. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and passing along everything I know so that my students will take it and make it into their unique style.
You can be sure that the first thing I will say to my students is that there is no "right" way of doing this.
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