Ugh. Nick was sick w/ a mild case of stomach flu so I had to go to the class by myself. It was DISMAL.
The teacher was a total dickhead to me. I got the very strong vibe that he really does not like me or want me in his class. This guy is significant because he was Nick’s first art teacher years ago and Nick was very excited to learn from him again. I was hesitant about an oil painting class as a first painting class EVER and the teacher seemed to think I couldn’t or wouldn’t do it from the get-go. Even after I spoke to him at length about the class and told him that I was there to do my best, he apparently did not take that to heart. He appears to have ignored our conversation and instead harboured ill will towards me ever since.
I don’t know what his malfunction is and I don’t particularly care. Judging by the way this guy runs his class, I’d say egomaniacal is a fair adjective for him. So, it’s OK to slap some gesso on a piece of cardboard and paint on that, but by GODS you’d better buy GOOD paint and brushes (read: the exact brand he uses) to do so! It’s insane. He wants everyone to invest $100+ for his overpriced ($140 for 6 classes) class even if you are a total n00b and don’t even know if you’ll like oils! I cry shenanigans!
I think what turned him against me is that I asked if I could use some crappy old oil paints that have been sitting on my shelf for years and he almost blew a gasket. I really don’t understand why brand of paint and brushes makes so much difference to a total n00b such as myself. It’s all gonna be trashed anyway, right? I won’t be keeping the class paintings for posterity or anything! You can’t use a brush that’s touched oil paint for anything else, so even those have to be tossed!
In my mind, the materials are irrelevant for a trial student. YES, if you intend to keep taking the class and all that, of course buying up is the way to go. If you’ve got nothing at all and have to buy anyway, then sure, go ahead and buy the crap that’s listed.
There’s an Asian chick in the class who is also a bit perturbed by this guy’s methods. She seems lost (I’m familiar with that) and at loose ends during the class. He clearly <3s his advanced students and therefore spends all his time with them. He clearly has little patience for n00bs since we’re lucky to get 3 visits in 3 hours.
This guy should teach ONLY advanced painting students, period. He is too inflexible about materials, levels of understanding, allowing for individuals’ input, well, everything. He stopped by my easel to tell me the things I’d done wrong (no words of encouragement from this guy!) and began some convoluted treatise on something and I tried to ask a question. He answered, sort of, and I responded “Ok, I’m thinking. I’m trying to assimilate that.” Then he told me to “SHUT UP and STOP THINKING!” He said I should take notes, too. ASSHOLE.
Ok, 1. NEVER tell me to shut up when I’m asking a question. 2. Do NOT talk down to me or dismiss my input on MY PROJECT.
Last I checked, I was paying HIM for a class. I’m there for instruction, not condescension. Classes like this should be fun not a dismal pit of despair. The only people in there having fun were his pets, the advanced students. The rest of us shlubs were ignored and talked down to. Although I qualify this by saying that he was quite jovial and friendly to everyone with a brush in their hands – even the n00bs – he was still condescending to them and was downright hostile to me. I wonder if he’d been such an ass if Nick was there? I’m betting NO.
To my credit, I did not tell him to fuck himself or walk right out of the class. I stood there, took his bullshit and finished the class. This coming Tuesday is the final class (thank the gods!) and I plan to be as cold as ice. I’ll go in, do my sketchy charcoal thing, finish, then go shopping until Nick finishes his class. Easy-peasy. There is a World Market next door and I need brushes and stuff, too. Oh, and the teacher was supposed to help me choose some good all round brushes for my various painting projects and he refused to do that for me last night as well. ASSHOLE.
If the opportunity arises, I’ll happily tell this guy to fuck right on off and not to worry, I’ll not bother him by taking more classes from him. If I do not get the chance, I’ll be sad, but at least Nick won’t get caught in the crossfire. Heh, I could always point him here, right? :-)
The good news is that I’ve realised that I do have a smidge of artistic talent (drawing-wise) and I’m glad for that. I look forward to taking more classes from non-egomaniacal instructors who are there to have fun.