I believe without exception that theory follows practice. Whenever there is a conflict between theory and practice, theory is wrong. As far as I’m concerned, we make theories for what people have done.
David Baker
We often times devalue what we know because anyone could learn how to do that in a very short time. Especially if it didn’t take us long to learn it in the first place.
This is a warped view. If I already know how to do 6 different drawing techniques, it will be easy to learn another one. If however, I was a beginner and the same technique is the first one that I’m trying to learn, it will obviously be much harder for me to learn it.
Theory can be an amazing tool, but until it is forged in the heat of repeated execution, it’s usually little more than a distraction. Your experience is one of the most valuable things you possess, and it should not be left understated or undervalued.
To end with a joke: What’s the real difference between theory and practice?
- In theory, both theory and practice say the same thing.
- In practice, they really don’t.