I love Shakespeare.

You might not have expected that. But I do.

Recently my old boss and I were reminiscing about the Shakespeare projects my junior high students did. He shared my love for the classics, so I was encouraged to teach Shakespeare. But that wasn’t the case with another principal I worked with.

That teaching job was at a northern reserve where my students spoke Cree and English. We had limited resources due to the isolation of the reserve. In fact, for most of the year, you could only fly in or out. I only had a few class sets of books.

We had The Outsiders by SE Hinton, an oldie but goodie.

Yet my students were having a hard time relating to it. Gangs? City living? In contrast, they lived up north. They missed school to go out on the trap line with their grandparents. Most of them had never visited the city.

So, I decided we should read Shakespeare. I was spending a lot of time explaining our current book; so why not pick a timeless classic? Besides, I had enough books for the class. So we started reading Shakespeare together.

The computer teacher approached me.

Was I teaching the kids Macbeth?

He had given the students spare time to practice typing skills. They started pulling out slips of paper from their pockets and typed out Shakespearian passages. They were excited to learn about that play.

The principal of the school was not so enamored. I was raked over the coals in fact. How stupid was I anyways? These were English as second language kids. How could they possibly understand Shakespeare?

But he was the one who didn’t understand.

The kids knew smart people studied

Shakespeare. They then were smart also.

This was true. Moreover, the themes and motifs found in Shakespearian literature are time-proven. This was good stuff and they knew it.

So fast forward to that other school, the one where there wasn’t any opposition to teaching Shakespeare. We acted it out and created projects using themes in the play. With great fondness, I remember their Shakespearian understandings expanded into Jerry Springer Plays, and "Barney Loves You and You Too" skits. They had Shakespearian fashion shows, recreated tv sitcom scenes, and who can forget that lego stop- animation? What wonderful artwork they produced. And that artwork showed me they understood the Shakespeare plays we were reading.

The students were engaged.

They were learning and responding to one of the greatest authors of all time. My basic instincts were correct. I knew that by studying great art, the students would be inspired to think about those bigger questions and themes present in that work.

As an artist, I am called to rely on that instinct. There are times when in my gut I know that this is the

correct path. This is true even when others are trying to pull me down a different one.

So what do I know to be true?

1. Imitation of another artist will only take you so far.

There is a model of teaching where the “master” paints a picture and the students copy it. I am not a big fan.

A. It sets up the false notion that there is only one way to paint. Just consider the many different interpretations of one subject matter. How many different ways can artists paint trees? There shouldn’t be a single interpretation. You will need to develop your own voice.

B. It takes away the thinking aspect of painting. Painting is about critical thinking. That needs to be inherent to the individual nature of the artist and linked into the intent of each composition. Artists develop their own voice when they respond to their work and make these critical decisions.

C. Imitation is the lowest form of learning. That is because someone has already solved all of the composition and colour issues in the painting. It is harder but more engaging to use those synthesis and application skills. ( See Blooms Taxonomy of Learning) https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/planning-courses-and-assignments/course-design/blooms-taxonomy https://tophat.com/blog/blooms-taxonomy-ultimate-guide/

D. My goal as an educator is to create self-sufficient students. In contrast, through imitation, you rely on me and not yourself. I would rather teach you a process. That way, you can go on to create without me.

E. It focuses on art being craft driven. There are skill and craft in art. You will need to understand how to mix colour and how to create form. However, real art is about the concept as well. What are the underlying themes within the work? How does the artist manipulate the elements and design principles within the work to reach a deeper truth? In my opinion, the best art is created with a marriage of craft and concept. But if you are imitating someone’s work you are wholly focusing on craft alone.

2. Follow your own interests and avoid the trends

Often when I give seminars, I find new artists look for the recipe. By that, I mean they are looking for the newest “thing” or trend. A while back this was adding a resin topcoat. That got old pretty quickly. The truth is that these trends will come and go.

So let’s take the advice Polonius gave to his son in Act 1, scene III of Shakespeare’s Hamlet,

“To Thine own self be true.”

This means you should paint whatever the hell you want to paint. Don’t think of painting in terms of marketing and what sells. Paint it because you want to. Paint it because you think it’s hard to paint and you can learn from it. Paint it because it makes you happy. Paint it because you are invested in it.

A great book to read on this and other art-related thoughts is Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils and Rewards of Artmaking. By David Bayles and Ted Orland. (Read this book, you won’t regret it!)

https://www.amazon.ca/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733

3. You will always find someone better than yourself

At the art centre where I worked a note posted on the staff cupboard proclaimed,

“Comparison is the death of all creativity.”

This perhaps is an adaptation of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, “Comparison is the thief of joy”.

Both are true. So often artists can feel disheartened. One of my non-artist friends has observed that most artists are insecure. Sometimes that comes out in bluster, but most artists I know are uncertain about their work. You can bet that there is always someone better. So stop beating yourself up. Just spent that jealousy and energy in the studio where you can improve your skills.

“If you continuously compete with others you become

bitter but if you continuously compete with yourself,

you become better.”

Anonymous

This is good advice. So work against yourself, challenging yourself to do better. Celebrate other’s successes.

Anon gets the final say in this week’s blog.

“Don’t compare your life to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.” Anonymous

So now go to your studio. Start creating and celebrate your own work.

I Love Shakespeare and Three Truths I Know About Art Making.