A self made artist's take on art education

I've never had intensive education in art, or it's techniques outside of high school. Whenever I created a piece I just did so to the best of my guesses and abilities. Anything I didn't know, I researched, and whatever I couldn't find an answer to, I merely "winged it". The only exposure to art education that I've ever had was in grade school, and macaroni art, at least to my knowledge, doesn't sell. Now, at the ripe old age of 26, I'm beginning to take art classes. So, now that I've had some exposure on art education, what is my take on it, thus far?

Well, it depends. Like any other course that you take, it depends on the abilities of the teacher. Not their abilities at being good at what they do, but rather, their abilities to successfully convey that knowledge to others. At this moment, I have what I would deem as a good teacher, and a mediocre teacher, and the difference between the two shows in my work, and the knowledge that I ascertain after the class is over and I head home.

The teachers aside, my feeling on art education is slightly different than what it was. This may also be the difference in setting, because unlike the stress of a college art education, studio classes teach for edification and not technicality, so the focus is more personal and the air much lighter. Since I'm taking my classes through studios, I feel it to be far more beneficial and enjoyable. I'm not making art to make the 'grade', but rather for my own growth. Knowing this fact I can honestly say that I'm wondering what the hell took me so long to take such classes. Not knowing a great deal of the information I learned in ONE class has caused me to make things far more difficult for myself than it should have been. Not that I regret it- the work that I completed is magnificent, but the stress and difficulty in the process could have been prevented just by knowing how to properly use the tools at my disposal.

For example- my primary medium is oil paints. The capabilities of oil paints are limitless. They can be made to have texture, or layered with a smooth surface. The colors are vibrant and have a distinctive look to them. They are also one of the most expensive medium forms out there- so you want to make the most out of your little 37ml tube. Which, it seems, I haven't been doing successfully. Nor was I knowledgeable of the array of colors I could make using a mixture that I would have never thought possible. These few factors, within a span of three hours, has made my own practice of the art better just by that little bit of knowledge. It's not a lot of knowledge, but it's useful, practical information that you learn from someone who really dives into the practice and has a great deal of training. Obviously, this training makes a difference.

So my thought on art education? It's useful, helpful, and makes a difference, so long as the teacher is able to convey this information successfully to you, the student. It also makes a difference in the venue and the goal that you have for your practice. Is it a hobby that you are learning (say, like my pottery class?) or is it something to further your knowledge in an art that you want to make marketable (my oil paintings). All these factors and considerations will help you obtain the valuable art education that you seek.