01/30/2008: I have decided it better judgment to remove some of the names from this entry, as I realize it may latter be of a detriment to my own or their careers, and we all know how difficult it already is without others placing stumbling blocks in our ways.

I attended Hartwick College, acquiring a Bachelor of the Arts in 2006. Concentrations for the degree included digital art and design, painting, and glass blowing. As you can tell by the number of concentrations, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life.

All during college I felt that I should enter the arts, however, most of my family seemed to frown on this as a total waste of time and effort. The rest simply ignored my interests in what I assume was a vain attempt or hope that I would simply give it up. They all seemed to feel that the sciences (specifically computer sciences) were my best bet at a profitable future. I must admit that in an attempt to merge these two ideas I entered the visual communications program.

Once I entered the program a new professor came in. The first thing he did was remove all of the market based and illustrative elements in the program that I had originally entered it for. You know all those “non-artist” based aspects that actually have a chance in giving you a chance at future employment. Everything I learned in those courses could have just as easily been done by reading the adobe website and manuals.

I truthfully feel that the professor lacked a clear direction and seemed preoccupied with other things besides teaching during his stay. He left the same year I graduated and, as such, the last course I had with him was a waste of time.

During this time I also studied under a long-time arts professor of the college, a seemingly strange and somewhat burned out painter who could never tell you what he actually wants. I did enjoy his classes, but learned very (and I mean very) little from his pseudo-lessons and lectures and more from the act of simply painting and seeking information on my own, mostly from other students. (A mistake when looking back, as they were as clueless as I was.)

Abstract works were often what was looked upon highly and because of this I quickly learned that literally throwing paint on a canvas often acquired a better grade than renderings of what you saw. So, as any student looking for a good grade, I did the abstract stuff. I would often clean my brushes on a canvas and use that as my abstract work while simultaneously working on some other more highly rendered works.

My final year of college I went into the glass blowing program headed and run by Erik Halvorson, an excellent gaffer and one of the truly good teachers. I learned about art from the side of an artist that actually sells, exhibits, and makes money doing so. I also learned to view art as a craft and not some lofty idealized world. I mostly made glass bowls. (Not the smoking kind.) But also did some sand and plaster casting, and some painting on glass right at the end. I would love to someday do more glass painting, it’s a wonderful combination of crafts.

I’ve also taken a figure drawing course under Carl Plansky (of Williamsburg Artist Materials). It was good, but very short. I learned about gesture drawings, working under a time limit and about pacing when you did get more time. I’ve still got a few of these drawings and love them. Admittedly Carl is one of the reasons I continued to paint after disappointment in my first painting course. He told me I had a painter’s eye and touch in my work, that was enough to keep me going, that little glimmer of praise from someone, when no one else wanted to see me go on with art at all.