Passive Advice from my Brother (Haven)

   I don't really get told words of wisdom, or at least I don't remember them. That's probably a problem. Either way, I find myself remembering conversations more than proverbs, and as such I take things that don't sound like advice but use them like they were anyway. 
   That said, my older brother is among several other odd things a casual artist. He does mostly abstract work with pens, and I truly do admire his ideas an creations. So one day, while we were talking about how I was doing in school I brought up how much I've been enjoying art class and it's after school program.
   "I don't really like art classes," he responded candidly. 
   "Why?"
   "I just don't like being told what to draw." 
   I actually don't remember the rest of the conversation, but that stance on classes versus creativity always stuck with me. I actually haven't taken another art class since. Yet I'm starting to find similar restrictions in my creative writing class. Long story short, 50-year-old janitors are less interesting to write about. That's why our's is a (mythical-type) dwarf. But I digress. 
   Of course, not taking classes has presented challenges for me as an artist. Basic rules, like anatomy and perspective are foreign ideas that I can only vaguely try to replicate these. Never mind trying to draw fingers or a nose. Noses don't exist as far as I'm concerned. So maybe a class or two would definitely help, but I'm definitely turned away from the idea. 
   Creativity or Technique? Which is more important today?