Blog

Repetitio est mater studiorum" (Repetition is the mother of learning).  

I work hard when I'm serious about learning something new but I don't know if learning by repetition is the best way for me.  I'm a kind of person who doesn't like reading manuals so I just start playing with a newly purchased product and figure out how to make it work (well, sometimes, never).  I like to just dive in and learn by doing instead of reading or taking notes or even seeing how things are done beforehand.  It may be natural for a person like me to get bored with the idea of repeating the same thing over and over again until we perfect it.  To me, it sounds just too tedious.  I like trying something new each time because that's exciting for me.  If it's a painting, I'd try a new subject, a new location, a new approach, a different kind of mood or light, etc., instead of painting, let's say, a boat on a lake on a summer afternoon a dozen times straight until I get it right.  My hope is that, practicing a broader range of subject or component, I may not become a specialist in a certain area quickly but will move my overall skill to a higher level slowly but equally.

However, I do see benefits of learning by repetition.  It reinforces learning/understanding each time and builds a skill fairly quickly with not much time wasted because you don't forget and have to relearn.  It's efficient.  Plus seeing a constant progress is such a confidence booster, which motivates us.  So sometimes I use this method of learning.  Earlier I knew my weakness was painting waterscapes so I practiced just that for a few months.  At another time I painted horses non-stop and became comfortable with the subject in a short period of time.  For someone like me who doesn't like repetition, a key is repetition with a variety.  I may be repeating the same subject but with a twist or in a unique way each time so it doesn't feel like I'm doing the same thing and I can be mindful of what I'm learning without allowing the process to be automatic or too mundane.

- Contact me about the paintings on this blog.

- Join me on Facebook.
- Follow me on Instagram.
- Watch my videos on YouTube.
- Follow me on Google+.
- Follow me on Twitter.
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell