go to art class at age 60?????

jocko500 · #1 12-10-2011, 01:07 AM

not sure if to post here or not. if not please move it to where it goes.

anyway I was thinking of going to a art class at the local Universe. i took some classes in the early 1970's but then I marry and had to rise a family and so I stop my art. i just took up painting about just over one year ago. I not that good but some people here think I am. I know i got a lot to learn and I know a lot too; but lost some skill but I know I get that back as i keep on painting.

I got the op to go to the Universe or go and pay $250 a year at a art gallery and then pay $10 a month there. i checked it out and it good plus if you sell any art there is no taxes and it will get a Louisiana artist stamp on it to be official resister.

I just wondering what to do and need ideas that all
thank you all

oh i got some posted here on this site . you can click on my name and click on the treads I made to judge my art.

**Yorky** · #2 12-10-2011, 03:22 AM

Looking at your paintings, I don't think they will teach you much. Your work is excellent.

One important aspect of art classes however is the social side, meeting other artists and seeing how they approach their art.

Doug

**kevinwueste** · #3 12-10-2011, 03:57 PM

My opinion might be an alternative to Doug's - which is first: - maybe - sure but what do you want to learn ? - to focus on ?

If you want to develop your realism skills ( drawing of people, then painting them - or doing the same for landscape, still life etc.,) then finding a school that has teachers who can do that - then: ABSOLUTELY! As long as the student is open, and willing to set aside his/her ego - you can devlelop - age is not a huge factor.

I went back to school at 42 or so.. to art school and I have learned so much ( and continue to do so as I shift into more of a teaching role at the Academy of ARt Univ here in San Francisco)..

cheers and good luck,

Kevin

Steve Orin · #4 12-10-2011, 05:21 PM

No.... Do not. An artist who has enuff soul to proceed must do so under his own speed. You have the steam to grow & be great? It comes from you. Combine that with the fact that you'll be an artist or a whore. You'll create images that inspire, create feelings, memories, wants or you'll pander to the $10, "a real oil panting!" crowd. Look into your soul, my son. You decide. And pay the price.

WFMartin · #5 12-10-2011, 06:15 PM

You might look into taking a few specific art classes at a local recreation center, or adult center. Quite often they offer single, specific-medium classes that are much more reasonable in cost than enrolling in a formal university. I teach an adult oil painting class at a local recreation center, and I have students from 14 through 80+ in age. The older folks really do quite well, and seem to enjoy the experience. I provide many hand-outs with information regarding "how to oil paint", and other, closely related topics (mediums, composition, color behavior, brushes, whites available, etc.)

To do that, it is a good idea to check with a few who have taken the class from the instructor, previously, to discover whether the instructor has the sort of approach to both painting and teaching that you will appreciate. At the time of my last class, the cost per individual, for 6 weeks, one evening a week, 2 1/2 hours per session, costs $60. For people not residing in the town, I believe the price is about $72. It is very reasonable.

jocko500 · #6 12-10-2011, 10:45 PM

thank you very much all of you. I will think about it and yes i thought about if I went back it be like whoreing . i did not wish that but then if i get some one who wish me to paint a painting for them would it be like whoreing there. I know that
Illustration is like that. You have to do what the person who paying you say to do.
lot to think about but then I did talk to a student from the Universe as he saw some of my art and i asked him if he saw any thing like my work and he say "no, he never saw anything or even the subjects I paint" that tell me a lot there. plus some one who when there 40 years ago say they only teach abstract; which to me is just a play with colors to learn about color and some ways of putting paint on the image you doing. In other words i do not like to go into abstracts painting but to play with colors and experiment ways of putting paint. I know I got one images here on wetcanvas that is abstract and one that have abstract in it which i hope do work.
not sure what I looking for . guess just some artists to talk to face to face with out ego there. may be hard to find that type of outlet.

jocko500 · #7 12-13-2011, 11:09 PM

well i went and join up on the art gallery. they think my art is wonderful and ask me why i joining and I say mainly to meet other artists in the area. I have to get voted in but the owner of the art gallery say that be no problem as she can see for now. I happy to go in to try to get in as they are all most full with the artists which is 25.
I will see what happens

**Yorky** · #8 12-14-2011, 03:14 AM

Doug

**birdhs** · #9 12-14-2011, 08:54 AM

We all hope you will keep us informed as to your adventures.

Let us know what your impressions of these classes are, and show us your works.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes at our local community college, have excellent instructors, and really enjoy meeting new people every semester.

Without professional instruction I would not understand things as well as I do. I do not comprehend the "whore" comment, but I feel like a better artist for my experiences with the educational system.

Enjoy it!

Greg

jocko500 · #10 12-15-2011, 12:36 AM

I do not comprehend the "whore" comment by birdhs

I was commenting this saying as I heard it from others beside from Steve Orin comment.
to me it means you doing it to please others people and to do what they want you to do.

As far as i know i not doing that at all. yes i will listen to people as they talk about my work and show me what is wrong with them. i know I got my own style and all and I know what i like and do not like. I know i got weakness that need to be improve on. I not good at portrait painting; need to improve on that[but then i saw the famous painters and many did not paint portraits as we think would be good?] . They say that will not change my style but will point out error they think needs to be worked on. guess we all need that.

one artist at one time wanted me to use build up stuff on the canvas to make it look 3 d texture. I seen that stuff and do not care for it so I never did it. Not to say i would not play with it but i just never did.

Any way I still waiting on what they say.

I like what they say too about getting some good prints done and then sell the original painting if i wish. I looked at a water color the owner did and it looks real. it was even printed on watercolor paper. I find out more on that as some one was telling me what George Rodrigue's told him "if you get prints done do it on silk" not sure what he means by that. may be some one here will knows .

jocko500 · #11 01-10-2012, 11:29 PM

I did get into the art gallery as they voted me in. i still do not know much as the holidays made every thing crazy. but i back from my 10 days away from town, plus all the members is back from they holidays too. Now I will see what what.

Nedwhite · #12 01-20-2012, 07:16 AM

You should go and take class.If you think it is better for you getting education and love have no bound.

jocko500 · #13 01-20-2012, 06:01 PM

thanks Nedwhite

beautifulfreak · #14 01-21-2012, 12:00 AM

art classes aren't for getting told you paint good...art classes are to learn something you might not have even thought of. 60 years young is plenty young enough to have your brain stretched in new directions. Try everything, be the sponge and soak it all up...later on you can wring out the stuff you didn't care for.

Songbird · #15 01-26-2012, 09:00 AM

Goor grief! Sixty is NOT OLD, especially not in this day and time, unless you want to be old. You can do most anything you set your mind to, including learn something new and different. I've taught fine art to students from 8 to 80+ in classes throughout the years and I've seen absolutely no difference in their abilities to comprehend and execute a painting - except when it comes to mindset. I've taught students with degrees in art, art education, and graphic design who ALL said their university classes did not teach them to paint well. Higher ed classes are very broad in scope. Find private classes, museum classes, workshops, DVD's, art groups, or wherever you can find a teacher who teaches what you want to learn. The group experience is invaluable. Although I've been teaching over 25 years, I still paint with a group of stimulating, inspiring artists each week...and I have a teacher/mentor. I learn from them and they from me. Local art associations are good places to start as they are comprised of artists in various mediums and just keep improving on what you already know. And good luck!

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