Many times the oil paintings art instructors would arrive 15-30 minutes late to class and they would do the usual "thing" of going around the room and telling students, while looking at famous painting as Klimt The Kiss…
"This is too dark", "This should be longer", etc…
Being the teachers assistant gave me a wonderful insight. I heard all of the students complaints.
"I’m not learning much Van Gogh paintings and other famous paintings."
"How do you get this effect?"
"Why don’t they tell me exactly what I should do first?"
"What medium should I use?"
"What brush do you think I should use?
I heard it all.
I was confused myself.
I made it my job to get the answers to my questions on my own.
The thing they don’t tell you about art lessons: The teacher will come in to class twice a week and spend around 5-10 minutes each class with you to share something like Van Gogh paintings . Many will paint right on your painting and will not give you information of much use.