Let's see . . . If I wanted to be a writer, I could take a Famous Writer's Course. And learn what they tell me about my own writing.
OR
I could read a lot of books that I admire to learn ON MY OWN how a story is constructed and projected to the viewer. This assumes I can figure out on my own how to type on the computer, typewriter or ballpoint pen.

In a similar way, if I want to be a painter I could spend a lot of time looking at paintings I admire. This assumes I can figure out on my own which end of a brush to use and where to buy a canvas. Let's say I buy a color wheel and buy the "Basic Color Set" will you say I was taught by the manufacturers or did I learn it on my own?

What if I can see the colors in a scene and try to paint them as I see them? Am I taught by someone coming up to admire what I have done as I make a notation that, "People like that part; I'm going to do it again in the next painting. and they don't like this other part, so I'm going to try something else next time." Is that self teaching or has someone given us guidance?