unfortunately decent teachers are something we seem to be lacking across the board everywhere. I've never had a teacher tell me I HAVE to do things exactly like they want it done. But I have had them say. "This project is to be done in a continuous line style, or this piece should use stuffmato, or this piece needs to be a blind contour drawing and then those would be mixed with other requirements like mediums used or color schemes." That's more what I mean by stifling. Sometiimes you have a subject to draw/paint/sculpt/etc and you have an idea that may not include charcoal reductions or specific color schemes.

've had teachers that are very big on skills. drilling in perspective, measuring, gesture drawing. I love all of that. that's what I meant by fundamentals. I'm more about that as far as art classes.