Creativity
As a newbie drawing and watercolor artist, I agree that a person can learn the skills to paint and draw and improve with practice.
There are many artists-creators on social media who give beginner drawing and painting classes online.
I follow quite a number of them, have benefitted from their tutorials and they are terrific.
However, and this might be a bit of a hot take, I sometimes wonder if their philosophy of "practice makes perfect" is a bit misleading.
Practice has helped me a great deal. Painting and drawing every day has sharpened my sense of observation. Glancing at an apple versus truly studying an apple makes a difference in how I may portray it on paper or canvas.
But, I do feel that some people have an innate talent and a natural sense of creativity. That is a gift and not something that can be taught.
I often struggle to come up with original ideas. I think the great amount of tutorial lessons online may be inhibiting my own individuality. We all seem to be painting the same Christmas wreaths or Easter bunny greeting cards.
Still, I enjoy the process, and I hope with lots of practice, 🤞I will develop my own creative voice over time.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Practice makes better, never perfect. I've had long contemplations on the idea of "talent". What is talent? Is it innate? Can it be learned? If someone spent their entire childhood practicing a skill and getting good, does that make them talented? What if someone has a "talent" for something they hate?
ReplyDeleteI could go on. If you enjoy painting, paint. You'll see how much better you get. And at some point, someone will call you talented. Just wait.
Thank you for your encouraging words. I understand what you are saying.
DeleteWhen I first started on my recent art journey, I was skeptical of my abilities and would frustrated. I think now I can acknowledge that my right brain just needs a little more encouragement.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteI really like Liz's answer and second it. Perhaps talent is something one is born with, but that doesn't mean that one cannot learn a skill of any sort and build one's ability in it - there is no doubt on evidence seen thus far, that you have artistic ability... what the practice needs to do is not just 'learn by rote' and recreate to a formula, but experiment and produce as many different results as possible to discover what your 'voice' is. One thing I know is required, is to switch off the expectation of a certain outcome. Allow yourself to colour outside the lines and see what happens! YAM xx
I like what you said about experimenting. I get the most joy when I kinda just throw some paint around to see what happens :) Thank. you.
DeleteDear Lynda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for swinging by m blog. :)
I love your consistency and efforts. I started making art as a kid. The art classes never helped, but I started using the original greeting cards to make cards for friends and family. Whether it was birthdays, thank you cards or new year - Christmas cards.
I loved that process so much, and would replicate the cards even in 3D! I know I was good at it, but I felt the natural creativity to create on my own, didn't exist. And would never maybe.
Many, many decades later (a few years ago), I sat at my daughter's school's art room and painted my first imaginative sunflower and I think it turned out pretty decent. Yes, it was flawed and not perfect but it was great.
I miss making art, and get to indulge in it rarely. Tough to juggle between work and writing too. Need to find time to fit it in, somewhere in my schedule.
"Keep making your own kind of music, without worrying too much about others and what they feel, or do," is my motto and it helps. :)
Thank you for your encouraging words. I like the fact that you were able to replicate the greetings cards. From what I understand most artists even the famous ones used references. I can't remember who said this, but the sentiment is "paint what you see, not what's in your mind."
DeleteMy hubby always tells me perfect practice makes perfect. Do what you do and love what you do...that's all that matters.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Barbie