Without A Teacher

They say, "Without a teacher, you can learn, but it will take at least twice as long." I'd like to add, "And be four times as painful." I can appreciate, especially now, what a good teacher *could* do. What do I mean by *now*? Now, in retrospect, after lots and lots and lots of repetitious failure. If you fail enough, a pattern emerges. It takes guts to fail again and again and again repetitously. It takes stamina! In the end, you are just happy you learned anything at all! The most simple truth, anything that remains after so much failure, is precious. I have to pass by the nuggets over and over and over again, in a crazed search, picking them up, dropping them, wondering around the field. Another possibility! But no! Alas, another copy of another has been, futile. I come back. And it drops again! If only there were a teacher to say, "Hold on to that one! If you drop it, come back. Remember!"

I'll be honest, while inspired by some teachers, right now I can only think of one piece of advice that remains with me, at least, at this moment. I told a teacher I wanted to teach. He said, "Then go into industry."

To paint. Why don't I want a teacher??? I talk about it. I say, "I wish I had a teacher." Teachers are probably the rarest thing on the planet. I say "wish" as in a fairy tale. To have one would be too good to be true.

To earn one, you'd have to be as passionate about the subject as he/she was. Not only that, you'd have to be willing to learn. You'd have to be patient. You'd have to take the most subtle remarks and bring back *work*. Unexpected work. You would have to stay out of the way. You'd have to create your own homework. The masters aren't begging for students.

Not sure where I'm going here! Better stop before my arms start aching.