A letter to my teacher...

Jamie,
It has been a great pleasure being one of your students. I've learned so much from you. You have helped me understand what the art world looks and feels like and where I can comfortably be within this world. Most of all, being your student has helped me understand how I should be as an artist.

I'm not sure if you have ever thought or taught of the art world this way, but I think what I've learned from you and the class is that the ladder to success isn't a ladder at all. Instead, it's more like a mountain with different areas and levels where people can comfortably live and flourish. The very narrow peak of the mountain is the highly celebrated critical success which leads to the history books. The beaten path towards this pinnacle is through acclaim in New York. However, because the art world is a mountain, there are different paths that one can take to climb it. One can choose not to climb as high, directly or fast and be just as happy and successful with their decision. One can also choose to take the road less traveled. Many times, no matter what they decide, chance takes them where it may. The value of my climb is to help chance take me higher, more directly and faster than I can take myself. Above all else, what I've learned is that I must not loose sight of why I am climbing the mountain in the first place - my relationship with my art.

I am choosing to do what I think I've unconsciously been doing before I was your student. That is to enjoy where I am on this mountain, but continue to explore and find paths that lead me as far up as possible. As I do this, I strive to strengthen my relationship with my art. The difference between now and then, is that I think I may now have a better map of the mountain than I ever have. Because of this, I am confident in my decision to stroll when I need to stroll, run when I need to run and grow whenever I can.

I'm hoping that we can still have some sort of relationship after our last Taking the Leap class, so I'm trying hard not to turn this into a goodbye e-mail. However, I thought I would tell you now what I think I've learned so that you can still correct me if I've got it all wrong. : )

I do hope that I can be as much a teacher and an inspiration to others as you have been for me.

I don't know how many times I've thanked you, but I can't seem to do it enough.

So thanks again!
Michael