You are an artist
This is not so much a practical piece of advice, in fact, it could be termed a bit of new-age nonsense. Or perhaps just a rant. But I want to get it off my chest in any case.
If one of the reasons you’re not drawing much I that you don’t self-identify as an artist, perhaps it’s time you had a look at the people who do.
Example: There’s a guy who stands on a street corner in the centre of my home town selling his work. I assume he makes a pretty good living, since he’s been there for a couple of years now. I personally can see no merit, beauty, or point to his work (which tends to be primary colours on squares of canvas), but actually, what is my opinion worth here? If other people like what he is doing, and are prepared to pay him good money for it, what right have I to say he’s ‘not an artist’?
I think it’s natural that plenty of people will not call themselves artists. At school people are often classified as artists or scientists. As it happens, I was channelled heavily into the arts, and notice that the opposite happened – I have a healthy fear of the sciences, and think of myself as ‘not good at science’.
Then, later, ‘real’ artists go to art school. You see them walking along with a huge portfolio, dressed in eccentric charity shop clothes. Or tiny “designers’ glasses”. Because there’s a whole lifestyle that goes along with art-school life, and that can seem mysterious to those outside it.
There’s another type of artist as well, the one who buys all the kit. You see them in public places with their fold-out easel, fly-fisherman’s waistcoat, no-spill water pot and palette.
It’s very easy to think ‘I’m not that sort of person’. But actually, there is no one type of person who can draw. For some reason, art is just one of those professions or activities that has a certain mystique around it.
Give yourself permission to be called an artist (after all, plenty of lesser folk do).
Today’s task: Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to look into your soul and repeat three times ‘I am an artist’. Unless you want to.
No, it’s just to go outside and draw something. And not feel self-conscious about it. Use a small notebook or draw on a newspaper if you want to. Then come and post the results here.
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I’m officially on holiday, with no internet access! I’ve lined up all the posts for the week. I’m relying on you guys to post and to respond to one another while I’m away. Do comment on each other’s work - it’s nice to get feedback!
Posted: June 15th, 2007 under You, Confidence.
Comments: 5
5 Comments
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What you need before you are allowed to draw in public is an ‘Artistic Licence’ — it’s a bit like a ‘Poetic Licence’ only more visual — it also allows you unlimited drinks at art gallery Private Views. Where can I get one, you may ask? Ahhh, that would be telling…
fred
Interesting… This also ties in with your post about drawing with children: at a playscheme I was working on this week, I sat in the art room and did a big blobby painting of some of the kids playing pool, and they came in and admired it and enquired if I was an artist, to which I said “No, no,” because it really wasn’t much cop. But perhaps they were right!
(Wah, I’m still really behind on all these tasks - I’ve done a few but they’re all lying around in after-school clubs in NE London!)
Aw, good, though - there’s nothing like a bit of encouragement! And, no pressure to keep up! But it’d be lovely to see your stuff one day.
Can you be an artist who likes science? Or who likes to write? I’ve always wondered if I have such a hard time imagining things in my head to put into paper because I tend to be a bit more “left brained,” no matter how hard I try to convert.
It’s a good question. Is writing considered such a left-brain activity? Even so-called ‘creative writing’? I suppose it depends what type of writing. As you can see from this site, I like to write as well as to draw. I don’t call myself accomplished at either, but I do have a real appreciation for good writing and good art, as well. Mind you, so do plenty of people I know who would call themselves useless at art.