[codingdave]

Nah, I gotta disagree. When I was studying art, getting my degree, etc., there was absolutely a line drawn between the academic pursuit of art, which did include the academic context, history, and all that rot of which you speak vs. the daily practice of art, which could literally be flinging paint around a studio and seeing what sticks. Our coursework and discussions explored that full spectrum. There were times to be academic snobs about art, and times to just let the work fly. And while you are correct that some great art comes from the middle ground where you bring context into your whimsy... trying to push that as the only place from which art can originate is simply gatekeeping.

Now, if you wanted to share your experience, and offer it as a potential path to add additional skills into OPs practice, then it could come off as helpful: "Hey, I teach design, and have found that studying x, y, z can bring you some additional knowledge that will help..." is a far more open way to express the same idea.