01/03/2022
Annette W I P "Oils" 18 x 24 inches, coming on nicely. Watched closely by our newest student.
Not all of us like being " Out of my comfort zone "
“I can’t even draw a stick man !” Can’t use that, Can’t do this !
How many times have we heard this??? We know this isn’t true.!!!
The breakdown.
Draw a circle (The Head), place 2 dots evenly spaced for eyes, in the centre of the circle. Ok with me so far? Now here comes the tricky bit, add lines for limbs, this is well within everyone’s capability. People doodle when board or thinking of something to say maybe during an office meeting or something. Whether they have skill is irrelevant. Drawing naturally, much like children do. They do it for themselves without worrying about what others might think. They are “unknowingly” creating art. Everything starts with a shape.
Unfortunately, many of us artists are held back by the word ‘can’t,’ and it is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that what we do is for ourselves. Yes, we take pleasure from compliments—but we all want to learn, at the expense of our own enjoyment and exploration of our own world. Can’t will often stifle self-expression.
For example, I have heard my students worry about using a new tool or medium to create a new piece of artwork because it means they can’t draw. A paintbrush is a tool for drawing with paint, and we do this throughout the said piece of artwork. Every one CAN draw. We know this, if you can write lettering and show your figures shapes on paper, hey presto !!! Whether our work is up to someone else’s “standard’ or “opinion”. It is still our work, done from the heart, and valid because something “Inspired” us to do it.
I’ve lost count of the number of times students or someone else, has said they can’t use oils, watercolours, draw or use pastel etc… This puts a block in the way of their creative expression. Sure, we struggle and sometimes decide that a particular medium doesn’t suit us. But, just as with the stick man “Analogy”, the word can’t, can be unhelpful. Not wanting to work with a new medium because it doesn’t suit us (after having tried) is very beneficial. We all know that expression - Know your limitations -, or is it “A Stay Safe” mindset, we learn by our mistakes and downfalls. Dust off, get up, try again, simple.
Perhaps the best way to start is by examining the Why? Then breaking it down to understand what we really enjoy doing. Whether 'can’t’ in a particular area is useful, or, worth addressing Can’t as a barrier to creativity. The latter can’t be allowed to happen, because it is everyone’s right to create and make art in any way they want!
