What is a "painting vocabulary"?

"vocabulary", in this case, is a code. a set of guides that allow you to organize your thoughts. rules you use to create artwork. a philosophy of aesthetics. a style. a mantra. all these things. he's saying your art is all over the place.

you're too young, i'm guessing, so you should be exploring to find yourself anyway. you should be at the early stages of building your "vocabulary". in fact you should still be building your "alphabet", you abc's. your aesthetics comes later in life as you build and develop filters that allow you to weed out the cr@p....you become more selective about your likes and dislikes. your vision becomes clearer.

YOUR TEACHER IS GETTING AHEAD OF HIMSELF, AND YOU. this is why artists don't reach their peak until their 50's. building your vocabulary is a lifetime's work. if that's all your teacher said, he doesn't know you very well because he should know your still young, and he should have helped you along,,,he should have shown you some doors for you to open.....

find a better teacher.

I agree with both Mik and Benjamin G. (Although, "...until their 50's." might be a tad bit overstated.)

Your professor has dropped an esoteric broad-brush bomb on you. Having worked with educators on a professional level, I had found that a few have their heads so far up in the clouds that they simply don't know how to communicate with us mere mortals.

That kind of esoteric attitude dissuaded me from originally pursuing art. Recent experiences have been with instructors who nurtured and gently guided their students and rejoiced in their students' artistic growth and exploration. Thankfully, some attitudes have changed.

I assume you are paying a lot for your education. The professor, therefore, works for you!!! Let me repeat that, "The professor works for you!" YOU are his employer.

Soooo.... This is what you have to do. First prepare a "who, what, why, where, when, how, how much, how many" list of questions? What is a "vocabulary." Who: What artist's or artists' "vocabulary(ies)" should I research? At this stage in my artistic evolution, "Why is it necessary to establish a vocabulary?" How: In speaking to your professor, ask him, "How did you develop your vocabulary. Can you show me examples?" That should get you started.

Secondly, tell your professor that you have been pondering his input and you have taken it very seriously. Be honest with him and restate what you said here, "I realize I don't have any way of precisely describing what a painting vocabulary actually is. I would greatly appreciate your input." Ask to meet with him so that you can continue to improve. Set up a time and tell him you are sending him a list of questions that you will be asking. Do not blindside him or be belligerent. Take notes.

See the following links:

"...united without line or edge "a uso di fumo," in the manner of smoke, a precept which gave rise to a word of his invention, still in the painter's vocabulary, and without which it would be difficult to define Leonardo's mode of execution, known as "sfumato"." From. http://www.renaissance-spell.com/Leonardo-da-Vinci...

Read about Kadinky's personal vocabulary here, http://arthistory.about.com/od/glossary_a/a/a_abst...

If you are in a public college or university, through my tax dollars, I'm paying in part for your education. And, I want you to get the best art education that my tax dollars can buy. So don't let me down...talk with the professor. I hope for your sake and mine he can bring himself to touch the earth and speak with us mere mortals.

Artist and Designer, U.S.

I´m from a different school in that your art should be all over the place. Once you become too stylized then you also become pidgeon- holed and formulaic.

One thing is true,,teachers come and go ,,a mentor is forever.

difficult aspect. query over google or bing. that can assist!