The first time I had students was almost twenty years ago, one person asked me to be his teacher and I accepted that. After this had many students, but normally not more than two or three at the same time.
Me myself I also started as a student, that time with Norwegian teacher. Even he did not exactly teach me anything, I still learned from him, and he gave me his name. This make me feel like owing to Norway wherever I am in the world. In Turkish we have a saying for this: “teach me a word, and I will be your slave for 40 years”. My door will always be open to Norwegian people so I can pay back my debt.
To be able to teach, I have to tell what I do not teach. What I do not teach is perspective, because if there is two glasses in front of you and the person cannot see which is closer to him, he or she will never learn to paint. Perspective comes naturally to everyone.
Anatomy everybody has eyes to see. If someone wants to see anatomy right, then it is very natural to see it right. If someone wants to see his own anatomy how can I teach that?
I do not teach color, I do not think it is possible to learn. Beside what color they like is none of my business. I teach each color from the pigment, and what degree of transparency they have, and the tone difference between them.
I do not teach art, I believe everyone develops their individual art. Nobody can teach art to another. However all my students seems to be mostly interested in what I am doing with color and construction. This I think is wrong, because I do not teach other than chemistry of the material.
In my studio I never see myself as a Master. I am a teacher teaching material, and how to control the brush, to make the colors, and to hold the light from material to material.
I never use my students for anything, such as modelling, or stretching canvas. But one condition I put, and that is that they should make coffee for me when they come. Up to now no one has kept his or her promise. It does not seem like they feel like owing me that.
I teach everything possible so they can go free from me; this is done with simplicity through development.
If you are interested in becoming my student you can apply by sending your details, CV and some of your work as low resolution JPEG’s to my e-mail: eser@afacan.no.