At Red Dot we seek to foster an environment of encouragement and enjoyment. Many students are interested in learning to paint realistically, and others are pursuing a more abstract experience. As instructors it is vital for us to nurture whatever style and subject matter is most natural and desirable for the student. We know this allows the student the best opportunity for developing skill and a singular voice. Yet as veteran students of various education settings, we have run into a major amount of teaching methods that categorically reject these notions.

Huffington Post writer F. Scott Hess agrees with me and many other artists about the perils of wanting to be a skilled craftsman painter in today's art academia. In his well-articulated article, "Is De-Skilling Killing Your Arts Education?" he exposes the sad state of art education. I normally don't get preachy about issues on this blog, but this one has affected me and my family for a long time.

The artist's work above is a fabulous painter and long-time friend.