06/24/2024
The best thing that ever happened to me as an artist was getting a solid scientific education.
When I learned the chemistry and physics of my craft, I became much more skilled and much more able to realize my vision. When I learned about thermal appliance design and heat dynamics, I could build a kiln from whatever refractory was available, modify or repair and existing one, and understand what was happening during a firing cycle and how to control it.
I used to think I was bad at math, until I understood that I didn't need to do it in my head, because nobody whose life depends on math does either. When I calculate a eutectic formula or thermal-dynamic movement in an open system, I can use software dedicated to the purpose. And understanding the concepts behind it, both the math and the actual physical constants, gives me an ability to manipulate the process that, prior to grad school, I not only didn't have, I couldn't have believed existed.
My son is going further; he's learning to design entire worlds in virtual reality. His degree program (VR Design and 3D rendering) offered him a scholarship on the strength of his work in high school art. He has a good natural eye for photography and experimented extensively with digital design and manipulation. Now he has a whole new toolbox to work with. He's learning programming languages to be able to create convincing digital landscapes and virtual experiences, and the reason he's good at it is that he's an artist, and doesn't have any time for the artificial dichotomy.
The idea there is some kind of dichotomy between STEM and creative endeavors -should- be laughable. The fact that it's not is a sad reflection on how our kids are taught and how obsolete that kind of thinking is.
