Monday, July 9, 2012

Being Teachable



Remember when you knew it all? For some it was way back in grade school. For others it was up until you went to college and realized there was a lot you had to learn....and yet some never fully understand how much they truly don't know. Being teachable is being willing to let down your guard...allowing someone else to drive even though you might know some or all of the directions. Why? Because most of us will never achieve world class mastery over our craft or marketing skills without getting help from each other.

 Richard Hull, one of my illustration teachers from college, to this day will attend a lecture from a visiting illustrator and sit quietly taking notes. Even though his work is great and even though he has illustrated editorial, advertising, and children's books – AND teaches it for a living...he's there...taking notes when most of the student's are not.

 Being teachable isn't natural - but it must be learned in order to progress. Sometimes I run across a student that reminds me of myself when I was in college. I had such a passion for being original that I rarely took the advice of my teachers. If they taught the class to do it this way I wanted to do it that way. I see some of my students making the same choices and while I understand it I know it leads to a dead end. There was a point where I realized that everything my teachers had been telling me was right. It was at that point that I started listening and my learning increased at a much faster pace.

 Sadly every now and then I run across a student who never seems to trust me enough to take my advice. But it's not just my advice – my fellow teachers confirm the same behavior. I worry about them because in most cases they seem to just pass through art classes as if it were a phase in their life...then they're on to something else and we never see them again.

 Two years ago I had to humble myself and learn from a recent graduate – Jed Henry – now a children's book illustrator (and a darn good one too!). He taught me how to use photoshop and it has allowed me to put away the acrylics and produce my images in a fraction of the time. If I hadn't been teachable I can't imagine where I would be. I'll talk more on this in a later post but working on ebooks and apps is so much easier if you can work in layers digitally.

 A few weeks ago I was contacted by an 80 year old artist who also was also hungry to learn how to paint digitally. We talked on the phone for about an hour and I helped her through some issues she was having with set up. She had found my digital painting videos on folioacademy and wanted to know if I thought she could handle them. I did – and she dove right in. Later she wrote: “ I have really enjoyed your course and will have many enjoyable hours learning all your techniques.” My teaching is far from perfect and learning from a video isn't the most ideal way but when you're teachable – i.e. humble – you'll absorb more information in a shorter amount of time.

27 comments:

  1. Excellent advice, Will! I have you to thank for teaching me how to work digitally.

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    1. Rob - it's rare that the student ever gets to help the teacher out so I'm glad I could do a little to even the score :)

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. This person just left an email address...don't know if it was intentional so I just deleted it as it didn't offer anything...sorry Stew - nothing juicy :)

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  3. the more I know, the more I realize I don't know. I guess when you don't know much, it seems like there's not much you don't know. Sad but true but I too see it every semester. There's always a student who is resistant and thinks they know better, even though I have been doing this for 20 years and I am just trying to share what little I have figured out in that time. Go figure...

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    1. I think the plan is that we get to live just long enough to figure out that we're all morons. :)

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  4. I agree, the older I get, the more I realize how much I need to learn. I don't ever want to be complacent! There's such a wealth of information that my friends share (online as well as flesh and bone folks), if I didn't leave myself open to all of it, I'd miss so much awesomeness out there. I've worked with people who saw that as a sign of weakness, that if you don't know something you're somehow making yourself vulnerable. I don't see it that way, I see it as allowing someone to give you a gift that has great value. When you let someone teach you, they feel valued and you've made an investment in yourself, and others to whom you'll share! Excellent post as always, Will!

    a : )

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    1. "people who saw that as a sign of weakness"...yup...I know them too...they're getting passed by in most cases...or nobody can stand to be talked at by them.

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  5. Totally thought I commented on this but long story short: Be teachable, if you're not, become that way

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  6. Great post Will. 80 and learning to paint digitally, fabulous! I just love that. Proof that we are never too old to learn. :D

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  7. Hey Will, I totally agree with your take on being teachable. The example you used of the 80 year old artist was a great way to enforce your point. For instance when I went to design school, I was taught how to draft manually, then to use autocad...when I rendered it was by hand in marker and coloured pencil, just as I graduated (2004) there was a shift in how things were done in the industy, and computer aided became the be-all and end all for presentation. But as I work digitally now (primarily self-taught) I can see how knowledge of traditional rendering techiques can be easily transfered to achieve simular effects, if one is willing to learn a whole new medium. Another great post! Keep learning so we can learn from you!!!

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    1. Right on...I think we're only in danger if we ever think we've figured it all out. It's tempting to get comfortable and think you have it dialed in but that's the first sign that you've stopped progressing right?

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  8. I also learned this from an 80 year old woman who was in my sculpture class in college. We had lunch after class that semester and even though I learned so much about life from her, she constantly reminded me that she was gaining just as much from me. I don't know that I believe her... But I've always admired her ability to absorb experiences like that.

    On the Photoshop note... I would be interested in knowing how you handle layers now. I have heard of other illustrators creating backgrounds separate of character for animation purposes... But your early videos don't show you doing that. Just curious if your layering methods have changed since then.

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    1. Hey Andi - you caught me! Just when I thought I had it figured out I realized that I needed to learn a whole new process in photoshop. So in my tutorials I never separated out any characters or objects from the background - never needed to for straight illustration assignments.

      Even on my ebooks I didn't treat anything to it's own special layer.

      Enter the app - Screeetch! Now I'm putting just about everything on it's own layer so that it can be animated. I'll be sharing more of that process in the future. I'm learning so much about making rudimentary animations and it's so much fun! I never saw this coming - even 3 years ago!

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  9. Hi Will,

    What great thoughts on being teachable (or humble). Sadly, I worked in the design world for many years, where Jurassic sized egos still exist. Even as an AD, I would weigh a job candidate's worthiness more on his humility and teachability than on his past experience and portfolio. I never liked a know-it-all attitude -- huge turn off.
    I've been so blessed in my life to have amazing "teachers" from all walks of life share with me little jewels of wisdom, creativity, technique and insight. I feel we can learn astounding lessons even from our students, as you brought out in your article.

    I always believed that a natural sense of curiosity was key for a creative person to thrive. Curiosity is all about asking questions and being willing to accept the answers from where they come from. Then, it's your responsibility to do something with those answers...make something of them and share your art with others.

    Keep on posting your awesome thoughts and those great tutorial videos. I loved your digital series on Folioacademy.com. I've been working digitally for more than a decade and still learned a lot of things I'd never even thought of. Some of your techniques helped me speed up my workflow by eliminating unnecessary steps.

    I can't wait to see those upcoming posts on working with photoshop for apps.

    Take care!

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  10. Thank you Tami - I can't tell you how therapeutic blogging has been for me. To connect with like minded people like you! All we can do is set the example of being open minded and hope it rubs off on others.

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  11. This was an awesome article...I only discovered your blog recently but I've definitely found it inspiring!
    I am going through a transitional period in trying to become an illustrator and was having doubts that perhaps it's too late for me...but clearly, there's hope for me yet, as I'm told that I'm quite teachable. Once I am employed again I am also going to check out your courses - thank you for sharing, and keep on writing!

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  12. Thanks Shyni! I won't pretend it's easy but I know that you can achieve what you set out to if you're willing to go the distance. I've been at this for 20 years and I'm still amazed at how exciting the opportunities are! With all the change in the world right now there are new possibilities every day.

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  13. Great article, Will. As one who has had to go the self taught route in both art and writing, I can tell you that for the greater part, the "self" in "self taught" is deciding who to learn from. The amount of dedication to learning outside of academia varies just as much as it does inside it and in creative endeavors I believe the best artists are the ones that will never settle for "having arrived." There is always something more to learn. Which suits me as I love learning it. :)

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    1. Great point - deciding who to learn from...getting harder as more choices are available online. May our ships never come in!!! :)

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  14. Great article. The only thing I disagree with is that being teachable isn't natural. Young children are naturally very teachable. Little sponges that are always eager for more. Sadly I think our system tends to squash that teachability and replace it with competitiveness and fear of failure.

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    1. Doh! Good point - you're right! tests show that most kindergartners score genius levels at creativity tests while adults fail miserably! The public school system is responsible for pulverizing our creative spirit....sadly many teachers know this but their spirits are being crushed as well because the system doesn't trust them to teach. Knowing it is part of the battle...

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  15. Will you are a wonderful teacher. Non-intimidating, generous, talented. As one, I can tell you know the best thing about teaching is strictly selfish, at least when you teach your profession or interests. Clarifying the thoughts for other people only strengthens (and when I taught, I'd show each individual which would sometimes give away to cramps, but always made me much better). I was so lucky a friend had encouraged me to teach as a very young woman. My first class, most of the people were older, a few quite a bit older than me. I felt foolish and presumptious, till one person said such wonderful things about my calligraphy. You are SO right about being OPEN. I'm not flexible and I fear that person may be correct that I will never push myself far enough to be relevant (my words, she'd said successful and that is one of my definitions). But goodness knows I keep trying, and one day may be so. If nothing else, it keeps us open to people, which I think is important. P.S. I love your blog and insights.

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  16. Great post! I love that an 80 year old woman is still passionate about learning and not afraid of the computer. Yay her!

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    1. Yes Laura - it was really fun helping her over the phone - she told me that another very popular company who sells video tutorials on photoshop was no help at all when she called them with a few problems. I hope we don't grow to large so that we can't take the time to give a little phone support. Her spirit was that of a 30 something year old :)

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