I was just reading the 11 Cardinal Excuses Not Making Art and how they apply to me.
• I’m no good at art, so what’s the point?
For me, I guess that happens when I’m depressed or when I’m confronted with a new method or technique. It’s so easy for me to want to give up at the get go. S**t happens even to the best of us.
• I don’t have time to make art.
That’s me all the way. Life gets in the way. And if you could see my dining room table, you would be convinced that it’s true. The only thing I can say to myself is, “Don’t beat yourself up.” It only makes things worse. Things I try to do that help me are to sign up for a class or set some other kind of deadline. A bit of art every day doesn’t work well for me – yet, but it’s something I strive for. The blessing of filling a sketchbook and comparing the first page to the last to see my improvement.
• Art supplies are expensive
Yes, good art supplies are expensive, but I remember someone telling me that a friend’s daughter wanted to learn golf. The teacher was shocked at the condition of the clubs she would be using. He insisted she get a good set of clubs. All it takes is one good brush and a handful of colors. You don’t need a box full of 50 colors, 40 of which you’ll never use. And then there’s play. Anything will work. Number 2 yellow pencil, the other side of used printer paper, ball point. Crayola. Just to have fun with nothing too precious.
• I’m set in my ways, I’m too old. It’s too late.
Eee gad! There’s no excuse for this one. I’m 80 years old. Most of the art most people my age do is sitting down. I don’t think most art beginners are up to the task of sculpting Michelangelo’s ‘David’ or painting the Sistine Chapel. I also tap dance. Have been in a troupe for over 10 years since both my hips were replaced.
• I don’t have anybody to make art with.
There are classes and online groups to share your experiences and learnings with. I join a group every month at a local art museum. We have a lecture-ette featuring the current exhibition. Then we have a chance to make art that relates to what we just saw. It’s great fun, and we get to meet other budding artists and make new friends.
• I don’t have any talent.
I just read a story about a woman who did routine needle craft, a 70-year-old who turned her needle work into art. She recently added painting to her craft. She’s doing beautifully. You may think your cake baking for the local social events is pretty good, but imagine where that baking might take you. Or for that matter, what about that wood working? I’ve seen it on display in museums. Found objects are also a great place to start. Beaches anybody?
• I’ll never make any money from it.
If you want money, become a stock broker. Art is first and foremost, something that fills you up, satisfying your soul. Art is something you enjoy doing, at least most of the time. There are challenges, the outcome doesn’t match the plan. Something goes wrong. But when that wrong something is fixable and something better comes from your work, you win. Big time. Or, art could be a job. A drag. That’s something to think about.
•It’s just too hard.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well. That means yes, sometimes some parts of the art process will be more difficult than others. I have a lot of trouble with mounting hardware. I didn’t put on my first pair of tap shoes until I was in my late 60s. One thing I learned was that some steps and phrases came easy, but the reverse was true for other dancers. Some of my hardest steps took a long time for me to grasp, but were easy for the other gals. We all learn at our own rate. It’s not the straight line to the top. It’s that jagged line – some days are good others not so much – that continues to move upward as you get better that counts.
• People will judge my work
They don’t have to if you make art for you. It’s not as though you’re entering it into an auction house like Sotheby’s or Christie’s. I would even dare to do that. Most of my art goes into those big red envelopes for later perusing. Sometimes I even surprise myself when I see a piece that I hated years ago that now looks kind of good.
• I’m not creative.
That’s the biggest line of bull that I’ve ever heard. Some people are amazingly creative with just a wrench and a car when I’m afraid to look under the hood. And oh, what some people can do with a knife and a strawberry or a carrot! There are so many ways to be creative that do not require paints and brushes or clay or stone.
• I’m not an artist.
Artist is just a title. So is Dachshund or ballerina. It took me the first 70 years of my life to admit that I made art therefore I must be an artist. Before that, I was any number of things. Photographer, graphic designer, writer, editor, etc. The list goes on. Every tax return, a different me.
So anyway, that’s my bit. Some are excuses. My excuses. But over the years of many fits and starts, many failures and successes, I found who I really am. Me, the artist. You can be the artist you are too. Just take that ball point and the back side of a used sheet of printer paper and have a go.
I loved this video. I do art and occasionally I sell art, but sometimes I need to remind myself to just make art, experiement and connect with the reason I started to make art in the beginning. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this and the video. I feel like I’m going to hear “do you draw?” following me around through my day and that is a very good thing lol. Needed the perspective shift ♥️✍️
Thank you for the reminder. I have made art all my life and in the early years, it was just for me and brought pure joy. In elementary school, kids would beg me to draw things for them. I was presented with a fine arts plaque at my high school graduation Then I started to pursue art in school. I enjoyed being among others who were creative and making beautiful pieces. The inner critic started to taunt me. Then some of my instructors would sometimes have comments that left me feeling like my art wasn't leveling up. Silly girl, you are hear to learn. Don't take things so personally. But I'd look around and see things people were doing, and the inner critic would tease me relentlessly. I got better. Sometimes, i wasn't having any fun, but I learned skills and honed my abilities. And graduated. Its taken me about 30 years to get back to making art for myself. Im finding that child like joy again, and im making art for me again. The rest will come...or it won't.
I suffered from the same delusion. I went from being the best to being in a place where everyone was as good as I was. And the critiques started flying. If there was one thing I learned over the years I spent in art school it was how to give and receive critiques. They are only to make your art better. They are not character assassination. Critiques were one of the most valuable and professional skills I learned. A critique is not criticism. They are like another pair of eyes. Believe me, I learned the hard way.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by you've never made money with your art - your awesome art classes, delightful books, now film shorts about art are hopefully making you money! I don't say this to disagree with your statement, or even say it's inaccurate - I just don't understand the statement.
I relly enjoyed this- lovely morning read with my coffee and a day ahead of me that will include more drawing. YOur video was also delightful and inspiring. Thanks Danny!
I was just reading the 11 Cardinal Excuses Not Making Art and how they apply to me.
• I’m no good at art, so what’s the point?
For me, I guess that happens when I’m depressed or when I’m confronted with a new method or technique. It’s so easy for me to want to give up at the get go. S**t happens even to the best of us.
• I don’t have time to make art.
That’s me all the way. Life gets in the way. And if you could see my dining room table, you would be convinced that it’s true. The only thing I can say to myself is, “Don’t beat yourself up.” It only makes things worse. Things I try to do that help me are to sign up for a class or set some other kind of deadline. A bit of art every day doesn’t work well for me – yet, but it’s something I strive for. The blessing of filling a sketchbook and comparing the first page to the last to see my improvement.
• Art supplies are expensive
Yes, good art supplies are expensive, but I remember someone telling me that a friend’s daughter wanted to learn golf. The teacher was shocked at the condition of the clubs she would be using. He insisted she get a good set of clubs. All it takes is one good brush and a handful of colors. You don’t need a box full of 50 colors, 40 of which you’ll never use. And then there’s play. Anything will work. Number 2 yellow pencil, the other side of used printer paper, ball point. Crayola. Just to have fun with nothing too precious.
• I’m set in my ways, I’m too old. It’s too late.
Eee gad! There’s no excuse for this one. I’m 80 years old. Most of the art most people my age do is sitting down. I don’t think most art beginners are up to the task of sculpting Michelangelo’s ‘David’ or painting the Sistine Chapel. I also tap dance. Have been in a troupe for over 10 years since both my hips were replaced.
• I don’t have anybody to make art with.
There are classes and online groups to share your experiences and learnings with. I join a group every month at a local art museum. We have a lecture-ette featuring the current exhibition. Then we have a chance to make art that relates to what we just saw. It’s great fun, and we get to meet other budding artists and make new friends.
• I don’t have any talent.
I just read a story about a woman who did routine needle craft, a 70-year-old who turned her needle work into art. She recently added painting to her craft. She’s doing beautifully. You may think your cake baking for the local social events is pretty good, but imagine where that baking might take you. Or for that matter, what about that wood working? I’ve seen it on display in museums. Found objects are also a great place to start. Beaches anybody?
• I’ll never make any money from it.
If you want money, become a stock broker. Art is first and foremost, something that fills you up, satisfying your soul. Art is something you enjoy doing, at least most of the time. There are challenges, the outcome doesn’t match the plan. Something goes wrong. But when that wrong something is fixable and something better comes from your work, you win. Big time. Or, art could be a job. A drag. That’s something to think about.
•It’s just too hard.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well. That means yes, sometimes some parts of the art process will be more difficult than others. I have a lot of trouble with mounting hardware. I didn’t put on my first pair of tap shoes until I was in my late 60s. One thing I learned was that some steps and phrases came easy, but the reverse was true for other dancers. Some of my hardest steps took a long time for me to grasp, but were easy for the other gals. We all learn at our own rate. It’s not the straight line to the top. It’s that jagged line – some days are good others not so much – that continues to move upward as you get better that counts.
• People will judge my work
They don’t have to if you make art for you. It’s not as though you’re entering it into an auction house like Sotheby’s or Christie’s. I would even dare to do that. Most of my art goes into those big red envelopes for later perusing. Sometimes I even surprise myself when I see a piece that I hated years ago that now looks kind of good.
• I’m not creative.
That’s the biggest line of bull that I’ve ever heard. Some people are amazingly creative with just a wrench and a car when I’m afraid to look under the hood. And oh, what some people can do with a knife and a strawberry or a carrot! There are so many ways to be creative that do not require paints and brushes or clay or stone.
• I’m not an artist.
Artist is just a title. So is Dachshund or ballerina. It took me the first 70 years of my life to admit that I made art therefore I must be an artist. Before that, I was any number of things. Photographer, graphic designer, writer, editor, etc. The list goes on. Every tax return, a different me.
So anyway, that’s my bit. Some are excuses. My excuses. But over the years of many fits and starts, many failures and successes, I found who I really am. Me, the artist. You can be the artist you are too. Just take that ball point and the back side of a used sheet of printer paper and have a go.
Wow! What a wonderful thought exercise.
I was just reading the 11 Cardinal Excuses
I loved this video. I do art and occasionally I sell art, but sometimes I need to remind myself to just make art, experiement and connect with the reason I started to make art in the beginning. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this and the video. I feel like I’m going to hear “do you draw?” following me around through my day and that is a very good thing lol. Needed the perspective shift ♥️✍️
Thank you for the reminder. I have made art all my life and in the early years, it was just for me and brought pure joy. In elementary school, kids would beg me to draw things for them. I was presented with a fine arts plaque at my high school graduation Then I started to pursue art in school. I enjoyed being among others who were creative and making beautiful pieces. The inner critic started to taunt me. Then some of my instructors would sometimes have comments that left me feeling like my art wasn't leveling up. Silly girl, you are hear to learn. Don't take things so personally. But I'd look around and see things people were doing, and the inner critic would tease me relentlessly. I got better. Sometimes, i wasn't having any fun, but I learned skills and honed my abilities. And graduated. Its taken me about 30 years to get back to making art for myself. Im finding that child like joy again, and im making art for me again. The rest will come...or it won't.
I suffered from the same delusion. I went from being the best to being in a place where everyone was as good as I was. And the critiques started flying. If there was one thing I learned over the years I spent in art school it was how to give and receive critiques. They are only to make your art better. They are not character assassination. Critiques were one of the most valuable and professional skills I learned. A critique is not criticism. They are like another pair of eyes. Believe me, I learned the hard way.
❤️💯
Great Friday pep talk!
I'm not quite sure what you mean by you've never made money with your art - your awesome art classes, delightful books, now film shorts about art are hopefully making you money! I don't say this to disagree with your statement, or even say it's inaccurate - I just don't understand the statement.
You're right. What I meant was, I don't sell my individual pieces of art in galleries or online.
Though many wish you did…
I relly enjoyed this- lovely morning read with my coffee and a day ahead of me that will include more drawing. YOur video was also delightful and inspiring. Thanks Danny!