40 years teaching art

What did I learn from 40 years teaching art? I'm still trying to figure that out. But here's a start.

--Talent can be the basis of a life in art, but it comes with no guarantee.

--You won't get very far without discipline and passion.

--You must have a well of perseverance and personal integrity to draw on.

--You have to believe in yourself even when and especially if the world doesn't.

--You already have a voice. Make it smart, articulate and persuasive,

--Don't be afraid to bang your head against the world and see wha happens.

--Some art is better and more powerful than other art.

--Creativity and imagination are fuzzy ideas that you need to make clear for yourself.

--Your art will be no deeper as an entity than you are as a person.

--If you want to think outside the box, it's best to know what the box actually is.

--An artist is the expert on his/her work so must be knowledgeable about the ideas, themes and concepts that form the basis of the work. Do research.

--Responsibility to yourself and responsibility to your audience are linked together.

--Much can be learned when art moves from a making process to a language process.

--An artist should never trip over the mythologies created around him/her.