“That’s an interesting question. And it’s kinda sad for me to say that nobody ever really taught me about painting. Okay I picked up bits and pieces here and there, but I was never taught a philosophy or a method by anyone.

In terms of a mentor, my art teacher at high school was a huge support in those early days, and undoubtedly pushed me forward, but he wasn’t a painter, and the teaching was more motivational than technical.

I have always been envious of people who had mentors or had been taught a method, and I always felt like I was ‘winging it’ by comparison (still do!).

I feel like I took the long way round, discovering things for myself or through my peers. There is so much technical stuff to painting, critical to what you are trying to do, so you need to acquire that knowledge one way or another. If it’s not presented to you then you have to go and find it.

My formal education was a BA at Glasgow School of Art (great fellow students, somewhat absent teachers), followed by 2 years at the Royal Drawing School (which thankfully filled the gaps in my Art school training).

Throughout those 6 years of study  I couldn’t name you one tutor (sorry guys) with whom I truly connected, which saddens me to say.

Despite this lack of guidance, I nevertheless never lacked confidence. I perhaps romanticised the untrained naive artist idea, and saw Art as this great leveller where anyone can have a go (which incidentally it is).

My practice was based on drawing from life, and i was comfortable with colour, tone and composition.

My training (if we can call it that) was founded upon practice and looking at the great artists. I was always a very visual artist and ‘Content’ as such would eventually take care of itself. I soon realised that painting itself could be subject enough. The more anonymous or humble the subject the better as far as I was concerned.

I never really analysed or tried to impose a ‘style’, and I never considered that I had one, but of course we all do, in the same way that we have a voice.

I suppose I still sort of long for a mentor. But  I’ve probably gone too far now to start any sort of retraining. My lessons come from looking at the art of the past and from studying nature.

My teachers? Velazquez, Titian, Rembrandt, Corot, Matisse, Picasso, Morandi etc etc

I guess, in the end, the positive side to not belonging to a ‘school’ or having been taught a method is that it rules out complacency – you take nothing for granted. The process is never dry/predictable/routine, and one is always learning. I guess there is a freedom to that and for that I should be thankful.”
-David Caldwell RP

 

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