Shellton Tremble 10 Aug 2009

Ahh...minored in ART in college. Well, 3 and a half degrees later and I'm back to art! So...semi-self taught, but does classes really teach you "creativity"? Maybe they teach history and techniques, but the artist's hand and eye are the greatest communictors!

RQ Trietsch 10 Aug 2009

Totally self taught on everything I do, including my masonry. Did have some helpful insight classes on balance etc with abstracts from an accomplished artist from another room many years ago.

Terry Harris 10 Aug 2009

I am self taught as well. I am always learning more things on my own and enjoy working at my own pace. Seems to work best for me. I took art in high school, and one class of design in college. I may take some classes if offered in the local community college some day if interesting. Ususally the mediums I am interested in aren't offered. There are some local artist that give lessons, so may try that.

Shelby Harbison 11 Aug 2009

Self taught with some drawing classes and a silk screen class. No painting classes. I can see how much there is to learn and how little time there is to learn it. But can't dwell on that.

Natalie Green 12 Aug 2009

I'm completely self-taught as well...my classes were Walter Foster books, and lots of trial and error. I was not impressed with my art class in high school, or the two short art workshops I took--the one thing they had in common is that abstract art is the ONLY art and what I was doing was beneath contempt!

This is Swan Landing...

cramer 15 Aug 2009

i droped out of artshool 1 semester before graduation...but my art was going a diffrent direction than graphic design (although i still dabble in graphic design) and i did art instruction schoos, l corospondence thing didnt finish that either, to tradish for me......but i did learn alot of valuable things about art and drawing...but im 75% self taught, what i do just isn't taught in art school :(

Randy Nore 15 Aug 2009

I have been drawing since I was 5 years old and took Commercial Arts in High school.I found that after school was done I had the freedom to draw what I wanted and it challenged me to become the artist I am today.By chance,I started dabbling with a ballpoint pen and have been doing so for 12 years.I am my own worst critic and I think that has helped me alot.

Suzanne Barrett Justis 15 Aug 2009

I am also "self taught". I got my BS degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. This degree helped me understand my subjects (animals) much better, breaking down the anatomy and understanding enviorments, etc... I have never taken an art class. My mother was an art student at Pratt Institute, but never graduated. Having a mother who happens to be an artist gave the the opportunity to try different mediums and express myself artisticly. I STILL learn something new everyday with my art...so I guess as artists, we are ALL students if we continue to learn through out our artistic life, right?

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 17 Aug 2009

Even though I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I studied in the "commercial" area only. There were no real "fine arts" classes taught there. Everything that I have learned about drawing or painting were completely "self-taught."

Denny ;{

Lucifer Lazerus 17 Aug 2009

Self taught and still trying new tricks. Things I learn from others and a few of my own made up messes.

Mike Filippello 19 Aug 2009

I'm basically self-taught, but I consider myself very lucky to come from a creative family.

My mom is a talented quilter and artist, she can draw just about anything.

My older sister was a fashion designer in NYC for 7 years. I still remember to this day going into Sears and seeing a rack of children's clothing that SHE designed with HER label on the clothing. It is still one of the proudest moments I've ever been given the privilege of having.

My Grandmother-on my mom's side was a really talented woman who designed and made clothes, and she designed on brown paper bags the house that my Grandfather built in the 1950's that she lived in until 1992 when she died at the age of 95.

I love what I do, and there's not a single day that I'm not painting or working toward getting my work out into the world. It's places like AW that I really love being a part of. It really is a Privilege to be here among ALL of the Talented People Here.

Simon Winegar 24 Aug 2009

The idea of a true self taught artist doesn't really exist. Just existing in the world educates the mind in the area of visual preceptions and renderings. (Unless you are blind, in which case, I am so sorry.) You learn the theory and application of art just by seeing other pieces of artwork. We "stand on the shoulders of giants"...to say one is self taught, is to deny the millenia of artistic development that has transpired, thus saying one has been uninfluenced by these events.

I have had as much an incongruent education in art as anyone, something most people would consider "self taught." Just because I haven't had formal education, doesn't mean I haven't been educated.

We have all copied, used, borrowed and been influenced, I think that means none of us are self taught.

Just my honest opinion...no offence intended to anyone who considers themselves "self-taught."

Nina Anthonijsz 25 Aug 2009

yes! What could be more rewarding than creating beauty from your heart, without having to abide by any rules! But also, to see yourself improving every time, is very rewarding. Self taught Jewelry designer, but also creating accessories like (leather) bags, hair ornaments, and some garments. Photography is some self taught, but the love for it is instilled in me by my father.

WESTERN ARTWORK By Denny Karchner 25 Aug 2009

Hi Simon.

No offense taken but I think that the interpretation of the the words "taught" or "teach" is being confused with the word "influences." If the main question was "What other artists have influenced you" was asked, I would have a few that have influenced me throughout the years. James Bama and Andrew Wyeth being the main two. But with that said, I will say that many, many artists like yourself, me included never laid down the money to pay another artist or professor to "teach" us how to paint, draw, etc. In that case, I have taught myself everything I know to do both. My techniques are just that. Mine alone. Whether my art is done correctly or to someone else's expectations or standards, matters not. I let it up to the clients that buy my artwork. One other note, they don't seem to care if I was taught or influenced by whoever.

Humbly yours,

Denny

Simon Winegar 25 Aug 2009

Denny,

I think real meat of the subject is individuality. It seems that most people are apt to call themselves "self taught" to convey a sense of self worth. There is really no need to do this..every artist is individual, and valuable.

Every artist is influenced, or taught...and they are at liberty to accept or reject these teachings. One who is instructed formally has the same opportunity to accept or reject their teachings, the only difference is that the instruction is more intense than it otherwise would have been. Couple this idea of "choosing what you want to learn" with opinion and personality, and everyone becomes their own artist. It really isn't that important if the person was taught formally or not, (although it tends to be an easier road) if that same person doesn't eventually evolve into their own person...their own artist...they won't last long as an artist. Being true to yourself is the most important thing in being an artist...and a person for that matter. One who is an extension of their teacher will usually become bored and ineffective as an artist.

I believe it was Da Vinci that said if he did not surpass his master...he would be a poor pupil indeed.

I guess it is a little like splitting hairs, but I would hope that even "self taught" artists will give credit where credit is due. I myself have been influenced by so many artists I could not imagine being able to name them all. Richard Schmid, Joaquim Mir, Jim Wilcox, Russell Case, Thomas Moran, Scott Christiensen, Nicholai Fechin, Sergei Bongart, Sargent, John Poon, Constable, Harley Brown, Matt Smith, Remmington, Maynard Dixon, Etc. Etc. Etc...

Thanks for the conversation.

Kirby 29 Aug 2009

I am a self tought artist, no formal training, it seems like more of a compulsion to me personaly, I reach for just about anything I can work with, shape or mold if I can't find paper or pen when I am the least bit bored, just to keep my hands buisy. I won my first art contest at age 5, mom says I was born an artist, because as a baby I would reach into my diapers and smear the contents on the wall, ok thats gross and weird but I showed some interest I guess at an early age and was incouraged by my parrents, they could'nt afford any formal training, but all my presents included some kind of art supply, and they called me a vunderkind, I guess that means wonderkid, whatever, I would have to say encouragement and lots of practice, love of art in general mixed with a little jealousy of artists I wanted to be like gave me the motivation to get to here, there is still so much I dont know, and so many artist I want to be like, that I will be motivated to keep on creating to my very end and maybe even then be too preoccupied with art to even stop breathing then!

Lynda Stevens 03 Sep 2009

I am self-taught in the beginning. But I did attend some part-time courses too.

bill luke 06 Sep 2009

I'm selftaught and right now I'm angry at My teacher for failing to motivate Me more.

Earl Johnson 14 Sep 2009

I am an Ex-Naval Lieutenant trained in fire fighting and a degree in psychology, but since I was small I've always drawn. Having that busy lifestyle left no time for formal training so I trained my self. I don't really call it training since I love doing it.

Jerry 02 Feb 2010

Greeting fellow self-taught artists how is it doing out there? It seems to me that everyone in the USA was taught art through the public school systems. After graduation the institutionalized or system dependent people went to schools to further their need to have others instruct, teach, guild or control them. Those people desired others to hold their hands and walk them through life so they could conform to the system after graduation. In the box squares seems to fill the bill with me and many others cool dudes.

I’ve been doing art for the past fifty-five years and forty-two of those were outside of the box. I felt that my own thinking, ideas, observations, abilities, emotions or ambitions were enough to carry me forward or down the road of life. I’m Jerry Stith or the founder of an American folk program called Ball Point Pen Art. My program was designed to introduce what a ballpoint pen could do as an art instrument, medium or movement.

Today I’m the most prolific ballpoint pen artist, publisher, video producer and information provider on the WWW for the past decade. For the past ten years I’ve researched, developed, produced, achieved the largest ballpoint pen art forum in history that currently has 800 artists, 5,450 oil based ink drawings, 153 related videos plus lots of information. My site is archiving, documenting, recording, producing and altering ballpoint pen art history.

That indicates that I’m the worldwide leader of an international ballpoint pen art movement. The facts clearly display or back up my statements because no others throughout history have accomplished or achieved such goals. My critics like to dispute my historical standing or accomplishments yet never produce any facts, people or materials to disclaim such.

I currently have photographic records of twenty-seven different places my materials are posted with on the Web as physical proof. I’m also showing up on most meta or major search engine findings, video or image results and on multiple message boards.

If you go to my ArtWanted gallery you’ll see 7,701 superb, magnificent or brilliant compliments posted pertaining to my artworks as well folks. God has shown me favor, provided blessings, victories and promise that governmental institutions simply don’t offer. Working eighty plus hours per week for decades also helps in my opinion.

Cheers, Jerry Stith