ALL LEVELS

Jim McNeill, character sketch and 3D digital rendering of a young scientist.

Pam Stephens

McNeill’s insights lent credibility to students’ ambitions of pursuing a career in the visual arts.

This article provides pointers on how to prepare for an artist’s talk and some lessons learned from McNeill’s talk that resonated with students.

Prior to an artist’s talk, ask students to develop open-ended questions focused on big ideas related to a career in art. Next, have students share their questions with classmates. Eliminate questions that can be answered through an online search or are likely to be addressed in the artistʼs introduction. After vetting questions, guide students to select the most important. Keeping the artist’s talk centered on big ideas keeps the conversation on a meaningful track and allows for deeper philosophical conversation.

Triston T.

After an introduction and an overview of his work, the dialog between McNeill and my students led to exploration of two key concepts: creative expression and creative expression as problem-solving.

Creative expression, a process common to all careers in the arts, involves an aptitude and desire to imaginatively communicate original, fresh ideas. With a reliance upon thoughtful observation and continual reflection, creative expression in the visual arts takes courage, resilience, and the capacity to change. McNeill’s career exemplifies these characteristics. Starting with small oil paintings (still wet as he carried them to class) and now encompassing digital media (video games and 2D and 3D digital illustration), McNeill emphasized the need to practice the basics of design and then stay current with trends in art media.

Problem-solving typically involves six steps: identify and define a problem, consider potential solutions, select the best solution, develop the idea, evaluate, and revise. Problem-solving in art practice follows these steps as well as others. For example, professional artists must overcome obstacles such as going beyond personal perspectives and reconceptualizing visual ideas. This approach to problem-solving was readily evidenced by McNeill’s artwork as he showed sketches, digital 3D modeling, and final products.

McNeill’s visit helped students develop a realistic vision of what it means to be a working artist. McNeill’s insights lent credibility to students’ ambitions of pursuing a career in the visual arts while, at the same time, offering down-to-earth advice on what to expect. Seeing the big picture prepares future artists for the challenges and rewards of the profession.

Pam Stephens is professor emeritus of art education at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. 
Looking at the Big Picture