Hi there. I also am an art student, and like you I admire the works of the masters, and am learning fundamentals that should be used in every painting and drawing. Like you, I sometimes go to art events and look at what is being promoted as “art” and wonder why anyone would bother with some of the junk that is being sold. I have come to accept that artistic expression is so personal, that maybe its my inability to see what the abstract, assemblage, raw art movement is about. What has helped me the most, is to stop looking at junk art, and concentrate on what I am trying to express. I think, just like in fashion, a lot of art out there today is flash in the pan and won’t sustain itself. I love the Impressionist period and street scape, and land scape compositions because I can interpret that reality. So, I think your observations are right on.