This is true for art, too. While it is fun to work with a technique or process that we know and love, sometimes it is a good thing to shake it up a bit and do something that feels a bit too challenging for our own good. Having to step out on the creative ledge and inch our way, foot by foot, with the chasm of failure three stories down, brings growth and self discovery. Yes, maybe the discovery might be "Boy, I suck at that." as my students would say, but I like to reframe the thought as "If I do this again, I need to take more time with it and/or learn a bit more first." I NEVER let my students say they are terrible at anything because that kind of label sticks like glue to a psyche. They need to "take it back" when it accidentally slips out and rephrase the thought in a healthier form. If they were especially hard on themselves I toss in a self-apology (done with humor, but the kids play along and I do think it matters to have themselves acknowledge that they don't "suck.")
Toby, on the other hand, is mostly deaf, so I can say what I want to him. And there are many times that he DOES suck.
But back to art. Last night in drawing class at Create Artisan Studio we were doing a study of a deceptively simple apple. At first it seems less than challenging, but when framed within the lens of mixing tones of colored pencils, blending hues, values, intensities, and temperatures, it becomes a little more thought provoking. Coloring with colored pencils is fun -- but when you are trying to match it to reality, it can be a bit more challenging. I loved that at one point AnnMarie said "This would be sooo much easier using paint" as that was exactly the idea (and why we used pencils!) At the end of the hour we had a variety of lovely, unique drawings of a simple subject that revealed more about the artists' styles of working than the apples themselves. THAT is what are is about, to me, especially drawing. You can feel folks standing on the ledge a bit, with varying cases of a fear of heights, but the results show their talent and fresh vision. Boy, I love art. And drawing!
While too much challenge can leave a person lost and frustrated, not enough leads to boredom and stagnation. Finding just the right amount of new learning can be tough. Failure and frustration can wound the vulnerable artist's psyche, we all know how that works, and most likely have been there at one point or another. It is important to keep at finding new challenges and art directions to keep going and keep growing. To stay excited, in "growth mode" and productive, requires an acceptance of making bad or experimental art things, and that is ok.
I will not mention what Toby "produced" on said rug just before he barked and woke me up. Oh, Toby. You are such an artist. Not.
What will you make today?