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In my previous post, I mentioned the four stages of learning. This is one of my favourite topics.

Here we go (I'll try to keep it short)!

While this is quite a well-established analysis, I want to combine it with the theory that we learn through a combination of knowledge AND experience; and while both are important, one is usually more important than the other depending on the stage we are at.

Stage 1 is where the majority of skills lie for us all. I haven't a clue about how to play golf, abseil, speak German, play the bassoon, and so on.

As soon as we decide to learn a new skill, we immediately go to Stage 2. We are now aware that we have stuff to learn. This requires knowledge. Yes, that knowledge will soon be reinforced with experience, but it has to first come through knowledge - even if that knowledge is copying someone. This is where we get outside our comfort zone. We can feel inadequate, and quickly give up. Other people make it look so easy don't they? We must press on, into Stage 3.

Stage 3 is where we consciously make ourselves do something. We follow a guide, such as a step-by-step process that gets us from A to B. We can do it, as long as we concentrate and follow the steps.

Most of our time in our learning process is spent flitting between Stages 2 and 3. We learn through doing, but with a cognitive bias. We control ourselves doing something because it isn't at the point where it is second nature to us. Learn a bit, do a bit, learn a bit, do a bit, and so on.

Typically, we will do something, and realise that we aren't doing some aspect of it right. For instance, we draw an outline well, but the line quality isn't great. So we are now conscious of our incompetence at line quality (and we go back to Stage 2 for that), while we stay at Stage 3 for the placement of the line because that's all right as long as we think about it.

If we do Stages 2 and 3 often enough, then at least some aspects of that skill become natural to us. We can do it without thinking about it, because we have done it enough times through repetition (i.e. experience). And that's Stage 4.

Some people claim there is a Stage 5, which is where you teach others. Personally, I'm not so sure. I feel that teaching is a skill that works in a different direction to merely being able to do the skill itself. The best "do-ers" aren't often the best teachers.

In reality, of course, learning a skill is never this clear-cut. Mainly because "a skill" is not one skill: it's a combination of a large number of smaller skills. Take life drawing as an example. The "skill" that we call life drawing involves:

- drawing lines

- drawing shapes

- visualising proportions

- evaluating tone

- recognising anatomy

- capturing a visual idea

- controlling whatever medium you use

- mastering edges

- creating an interesting composition

and many more minor aspects which make it a never-ending journey.

Each mini-skill goes through the four stages. And then, just when we feel we've mastered something, we see what someone else has done and we realise we are only beginning. We've been in Stage 1 all along, blissfully unaware of what was possible.... and off we go to Stage 2 again!

Which, for me, is why art is so fascinating. The more we learn, the more we see that there is still to learn. It's what keeps us grounded and humble!