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This 'Letters to Students' blog post is composed of replies to real people who were studying with me at the time. They have been lightly edited, mostly for clarity.

---- I do realize that my classes are structured differently from much of the art instruction out there, but one of my hopes is that people will come to realize, as my teachers instructed me, that painting isn't a matter of learning to paint this subject and then learning to paint that subject. It's all learning to see and learning to respect and understand your materials. 

---- It sounds to me like you are exactly on the right track --even though I have no doubt that it must feel very wrong at times. I'm so pleased to see you thinking through things and having a try at whatever might work. Within reason, anything you can do to put less pressure on the finished product will be a tremendous advantage down the road. 

---- As for the color charts, if you are drawn to doing them I think the practice in mixing colors can only help. Some people love them and some people think they are a form of medieval torture but eventually you have to acquire that experience one way or another. The only danger I could see is if you are doing only those instead of painting. I have seen a number of artists over the years who probably lean a bit too perfectionistic for their own good and more than a few I've known have gotten stuck in a loop of always 'getting ready' to paint.