[Jewelry making - Article 00061] - Re: [Orchid] Self taught Vs Formal training

[Terri Garcia]

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    I'm afraid this is a bit long, please bear with me. 

    I had considered myself self taught even though I had taken 'hobby'
    art metal courses from some very talented metalsmiths for over 20
    years at various institutions. I made jewelry that people loved the
    entire time, but felt that my work lacked the professional quality
    that I needed to be self employed. I had a whole library of wonderful
    books and lessons, but without someone guiding me and teaching me all
    the tricks, shortcuts, and skills that they've learned and developed
    over the years and how to make quality jewelry, I'd still be just a
    novice. 

    It wasn't until I went to a private academy devoted only to jewelry
    and other artistic metal techniques, with some blacksmithing and
    armor making thrown in, that I gained the knowledge and experience I
    wanted. Being able to observe the subtle techniques of knowledgeable
    and talented people at work cannot be learned from a book. I finally
    had someone to correct all those bad habits I developed on my own.
    Eventually I became employed there as a teaching assistant and did
    LOTS of bench and production work in their working shop. 

    I worked with some pretty amazing people there, instructors and
    students alike. I think I learned as much from the students and their
    influences, and mistakes that had to be thought out and fixed, as I
    did from the instructors. I always said "you never know who's going
    to walk through the door" and what there was to learn from them. I
    consider the education I received and the opportunity to work on so
    many varied repairs, restorations, projects and weird custom orders
    the best experience I've ever had and, as they say, "priceless". 

    I am now confidently self employed, yet still take the opportunity
    to learn something new as often as possible. I realize that not all
    students that get a technical education, have the wonderful (yet
    often frustrating and exhausting) experience that I had, but then
    again not all of them were as driven as me either. I'll take
    education over self taught any day, if just for the experience.

Terri


 
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