ART..***..What is essential for art to exist?..***..If Art = x then x must happen whenever art happens..***..Not sometimes, occasionally or even mostly BUT - ALWAYS..***..There IS an answer and it is the foundation of AN ART PROGRAM..**..Which means this book is grounded in philosophy and so doesn't date.SKILL..***..is developed by repetition of a behaviour over a period of time..***..It is necessary therefore to build from situations where the behaviour is limited..***...Artistic activity is a behaviour, so like any other behaviour, skill can be developed..***..People considered artistic possess that skill.But how do you get to situations that demand high level autonomous skill?..***..Performance of a task is related to practice at that task..***..With more practice comes control and we can predict what might happen..***..As we practice even more we become increasingly effective, and the results are better..***..Most really skilled people work at this level as a result of years of experience.But developing skill takes a lot of time..***..All children learn problem solving skills for that's how they learn to talk, walk and other things..***..Adults learning tend to be impatient and not allow sufficient time to develop skill.The sport of body building illustrates what should take place..***..The athlete completes many lifts of weights over a lengthy period of time..***..Small increments of additional weight are applied at regular intervals..***..Eventually the weight-lifter builds sufficient strength to lift very heavy weights..***..Weights that would have been impossible at the beginning of this training process.Developing artistic skill is no different!..***..Many repetitions of anything with interest and motivation = skill development..***..It is necessary therefore to build from situations where limited skill operates.AN ART PROGRAM is not rocket science but common sense..***..Instead of a few seeming to be talented all students are..***..AN ART PROGRAM works because it is right..***..The thinking and the practice are in harmony..***..But it has also been tested in real life..***..AN ART PROGRAM is not rocket science but common sense..***..Brought right up to date in this book.THE REAL TEST..***..The success of this program is measured by artistic development..***..This might be of yourself or your students...***..BUT it's not me that will build your art ability..***..You are the artist!..***..To get ANY benefit you must actually DO something!..***..There is very little benefit gained by merely reading my material..***..It is built from situations where the behavior is limited.AN ART PROGRAM is not rocket science but common sense.