(He)Art Failure

"A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do his job when he does feel like it." - James Agate

A full-time course load can be a tricky juggling act for students (and faculty), but combined with the added stress of leaving friends and family, plus transitioning into what for many can a dramatic cultural and environmental change can be an overwhelming experience. A year ago I had a student who'd really been struggling, not just with our class but the entire semester, and during one in-class exercise said to me "My heart's just not into it."

Points up the distinction between empathy versus sympathy, when half the time I'm dragging my beat, bloodshot and bleary ass to an 8am class, after yet another night spent either hunched over the drawing board or staring at the monitor. Tempering a patience worn thin against mt personal perspective born from a legendary and sordid history of screw-ups can act as somewhat of a sort of speed-bump when confronted with the unfortunate circumstances of many a student or even fellow artist. Everybody's got a story, and teaching exponentially multiplies exposure to all sorts of sad, strange and wonderful tales. Fortunately the ratio of successes holds true enough to maintain momentum - no different from creating.
(Pictured here are a few shots from this semester's Beginning Drawing class)

"A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood." -  Tchaikovsky