Final answer:
The author implies that sending a budding conceptual artist through a thorough academic art education might hinder rather than help their artistic growth, favoring real-world experience and personal development instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the passages provided, it appears that subjecting a budding conceptual artist to a thorough academic education in art is what the author implies would be folly. The reasoning behind this is that an overly academic approach may not align well with the nature of conceptual art, which values originality, individuality, and may thrive outside traditional academic strictures. The author's reasoning suggests that artistic growth should be nurtured through real-world experiences and personal development, such as connecting with agents, pacing oneself, maintaining a diary to reflect on personal feelings and thoughts, and being open to criticism only from those invested in the artist's success. Moreover, the observations about the psychological impacts of labels and the importance of independence in a creative career reinforce this perspective.