The Learning Curve

Having been an avid learner all my life, I have realized over and over that no lovely learning curve nor straight line exists. Learning seems to be about steps forward, steps backward, and sidesteps now and then. As a dancer, that all seems very normal.

There are no failures, no mistakes when learning, only partial learning and practice only helps when it is perfect practice. That's why you must be willing to be a learner. Vincent Van Gogh said it brilliantly, 

“I know how much I still have to learn myself,

but all the same, I’m beginning to see light ahead of me and,

one way or another, by practicing on my own,

by learning anything I can use from others, I’ll continue to

paint with passion.” 

This is my motto and my mantra. My friend Sue remarked that she had never known anyone as passionate about learning as me. I constantly read about art and every artist talks about learning and breakthroughs - times when learning came together to create insight and direction. I have little "breaks" all the time but the big one is still waiting for me to discover it. So I will keep reading, keep painting, and keep listening to the more experienced until my "breakthrough" breaks through.

 

When I retired I thought I would publish a blog about retirement. I have been a writer since 4th grade - the grade I believe is the one when everyone knows where their lives are headed. Though I started writing poems everyday, retirement had a surprise for me.

 

We volunteered to host a neighborhood party after being here (Weeki Wachee, FL) for seven months. I met my neighbor, Sue, a retired art teacher. She casually asked if I would like to do (learn) art. I said, "Sure" and the die was cast (reference intended).

 

We started at her home studio and at a meeting once a week with a very casual group of experienced artists where we all worked on the same reference. When Sue decided to spend that summer in New York, I kept going. I was woefully behind...had very little drawing experience. However, I hung on soaking up whatever I could. In the Fall a neighbor told us about the local art league that met every Monday. We joined a delightful group of amateur and professional local artists that welcomed us with open arms.

 

One day, we were trying to follow a video that Sue had purchased. We kept watching sections multiple times, splattering paint as demonstrated, and in a fit of frustration laughed so hard we nearly frightened our husbands. Sue discovered that one of this artist's colleagues was teaching nearby (about an hour and 20 minutes away). We drove south to investigate the "Queen of Yupo", a watercolor artist and teacher at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center. When we visited the class, we were hugged and welcomed and we immediately signed up for the next session with Taylor Iken. Two years, six teachers, several workshops, and three distinct media later, we are a part of the wonderfully supportive and inspiring Fine Arts Center in Dunedin. Thus a whole new and unexpected retirement adventure got started and every day for me is a good day for art.