Are You Autodidactic?
Leonardo DaVinci and Ben Franklin have been called autodidactic. Matt Damon played an autodidact in the movie, "Good Will Hunting". If you have ever taught yourself something, you were practicing autodidacticism. Funny word -- not sure if I like it that much! Somehow it sounds a little stern and serious. Dictionary definition of an autodidact: a self-taught person.
Recently I've decided to see what more I could learn about mixed media art on my own. At first I intended to take a printmaking, digital collage or painting class at one of the many fine art institutions here in Houston, but committing to a 10 or 12 week course just didn't work for me. My mother is 93 and in frail health, and I'm never sure when I might have to fly to NY to visit her. So besides devouring art books (my usual method of instruction), I turned to YouTube and found some short art instruction films that let me see exactly how certain techniques are accomplished by other artists. This gave me a new appreciation for YouTube. Often when people send me links to short online film clips, I am underwhelmed and/or too impatient to slog through them. I am also borrowing instructional DVDs from the library. Last but not least, I finally cracked some tricks related to layers in digital photography using my Corel Paint Shop Pro software. I just needed to sit down and apply myself.
So a few times a week, I carve out a little niche of time to sit down and try to learn something new about mixed media. Result: I have many new experiments going on in my art room. It is humbling to begin again with new art forms, but I try to stay playful and see what develops.
For sure, there are plenty of times when only an accomplished teacher will do. I really appreciate my yoga teacher, for one! Thinking back over your life, what have you learned on your own? I'm sure there are lots of things: following a new recipe, learning how to knit or quilt, growing a garden, carpentry, etc. Usually we have a passion for the subjects we jump into on our own. Does this learning style suit you? Hope to hear from some of you soon!
Layered photo by KAO: Forest Glow
Tags: autodidacticism, creativity, education
Views: 25
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on -
I absolutely LOVE your layered photo, Keddy. That's BEAUTIFUL!!!
What have I learned on my own?
Well, I taught myself or figured out how to sew and created (I think) some really practical and good-looking pieces (a mainsail cover for our 28' sailboat, window treatments, bedspreads, etc.).
Remember macrame? I taught myself how to do that (and created some cool plant hangars)
I taught myself about African Violets and once upon a time had a gorgeous collection under grow lights (so perfect, they could have been award-winning), creating endless supplies of beautiful blooms that I would cut and float in water.
I'll have to think some more. I've taught myself tons of things. Almost always when I teach myself something, I have a specific purpose in mind for which I intend to use my skill.
Your posts are really making me think about fun things. Thanks Keddy. :)
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Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on -
I bet you learned a lot of computer skills on your own as you developed HWT!
I've never tried African violets, guess the idea of grow-lights seemed too complicated. Yours sound great and hope you took photos.
I was spoiled at the library - they gave us lots of great training. That's how I learned to blog. And way back when, ah - overworked trainers revealed the mystery of the internet to some 300 of us! I remember being confused between the address and search spaces, what to put where. And then it became my turn to help the public figure it all out. If I had a nickel for the number of seniors my staff taught how to use a computer mouse, we could have flown to Rio. Eventually we offered some short classes on computer skills. And I found out that when you teach someone how to cut and paste, you become their BFF!
There are so many things to learn and try, sometimes you just have to dive in yourself!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on
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Yes, as a matter of fact, I've learned tons about computers, internet, SEO, and you name it. I forgot about that. It's one of those self-taught skills learned out of necessity, just hanging wallpaper. The best way to learn is to do it.
Oh my, I'll bet that was a challenge teaching the seniors to use the computer. It's interesting, though. I've read that seniors are finally flocking to the internet. Well, maybe flocking is too strong a word. But they're using it.
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