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Do you ever dream of passing your knowledge or skills to your children?
My dad is an artist. He paints. He started painting full-time when I was about six, I think. As a kid, I was a good artist. I inherited some talent, and developed some interest (and therefore practiced). When I got into high school, I didn't take any art classes my freshman year. I only had two electives, so I chose study hall and freshman shop class (for the overview of wood shop, metal shop, auto shop and drafting). Sophmore year, I used my electives on study hall (because I knew I wouldn't do my homework at home) and retaking the courses I failed the previous year. Junior year, I skipped the art classes again, for some reason. I think it was that point that my dad found out I hadn't taken any art classes. He was rather disapointed. I was a little surprised.
I wonder if my dad expected to go into his field. That wasn't going to happen. I saw the difficulties up close. And in hindsight, I'm not sure I'd have been cut out for that line of work anyway - but that's a different story. It seems common that dads want their sons to carry on in their line of work. I was reading not long ago, where (Python) Michael Palin's father was a banker, and expected his son to go into banking as well. But why? I can certainly understand it if the father had spent the better part of a lifetime developing a set of skills, and wanted to pass them down to his son. There are all kinds of reasons for this. For one, his son could be more successful, not having to learn it all from scratch. There's also the desire to leave a legacy. But what can be passed down from father to son when the line of work is banking? Nothing but the ability to say, "I come from a long line of bankers." Whoopee.
So how did my dad feel about my disinclination to get an education in artmaking? I don't really know. Nor do I know why he might have been disappointed. Did he really want me to go into the field, or did he want me to have a certain set of experiences that was similar to his, just so we could relate on a certain level? Like in banking, I don't feel there was a whole lot he could have taught me about painting. It's mostly practice.
Lately, though, there's been a new factor. He's printing using a centuries old process. He's been doing it for well over twenty years. He's learned a lot, but he's still learning. It's quite a bit of skill, and he doesn't want it to disappear. So now he's got something he needs to pass on. I wonder if he worries he won't be able to teach me everything he knows. I wonder if he worries that I won't keep printing after he's gone.
My dad is an artist. He paints. He started painting full-time when I was about six, I think. As a kid, I was a good artist. I inherited some talent, and developed some interest (and therefore practiced). When I got into high school, I didn't take any art classes my freshman year. I only had two electives, so I chose study hall and freshman shop class (for the overview of wood shop, metal shop, auto shop and drafting). Sophmore year, I used my electives on study hall (because I knew I wouldn't do my homework at home) and retaking the courses I failed the previous year. Junior year, I skipped the art classes again, for some reason. I think it was that point that my dad found out I hadn't taken any art classes. He was rather disapointed. I was a little surprised.
I wonder if my dad expected to go into his field. That wasn't going to happen. I saw the difficulties up close. And in hindsight, I'm not sure I'd have been cut out for that line of work anyway - but that's a different story. It seems common that dads want their sons to carry on in their line of work. I was reading not long ago, where (Python) Michael Palin's father was a banker, and expected his son to go into banking as well. But why? I can certainly understand it if the father had spent the better part of a lifetime developing a set of skills, and wanted to pass them down to his son. There are all kinds of reasons for this. For one, his son could be more successful, not having to learn it all from scratch. There's also the desire to leave a legacy. But what can be passed down from father to son when the line of work is banking? Nothing but the ability to say, "I come from a long line of bankers." Whoopee.
So how did my dad feel about my disinclination to get an education in artmaking? I don't really know. Nor do I know why he might have been disappointed. Did he really want me to go into the field, or did he want me to have a certain set of experiences that was similar to his, just so we could relate on a certain level? Like in banking, I don't feel there was a whole lot he could have taught me about painting. It's mostly practice.
Lately, though, there's been a new factor. He's printing using a centuries old process. He's been doing it for well over twenty years. He's learned a lot, but he's still learning. It's quite a bit of skill, and he doesn't want it to disappear. So now he's got something he needs to pass on. I wonder if he worries he won't be able to teach me everything he knows. I wonder if he worries that I won't keep printing after he's gone.
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no subject
Date: 2005-03-16 06:02 am (UTC)From:I'm glad you made your peace with your dad. I'm glad I don't have to make peace with mine, but I might have to see about laying to rest some... curiosities.
I don't mind at all if anyone adds me. It's bed time, so I'll try to check out your journal tomorrow. Thanks for coming by.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-16 10:16 pm (UTC)From: