Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Fleur du Crayon
I was rummaging through some old boxes yesterday in search of the many writing journals I have squirreled away, unused, over the years. I found a couple, but I also found a surprise.
Tucked neatly into a corner was a box containing pencils, sketch pads, and “teach yourself to draw” books of various flavors. I often wish that I could draw, but I’m quick to admit that I can’t. Or can I?
I thumbed through the sketch book and found, among the many practice exercises that I was obviously following from a book, the two drawings that you see in this post. They’re not show-stoppers. They won’t win prizes. But what they said to me was pointed: “Stop telling yourself that you can’t draw!”
I realized that what I’ve really been saying is that I haven’t taken the time necessary to study and practice my drawing skills. Drawing doesn’t come easily to me. It’s work, and the end results are not always worth the effort. But the truth is I can draw. At least a little. The fact that my skills have not improved is solely due to laziness on my part and the “you can’t draw” mantra that I’ve been playing in my head.
Dessin de Paysage
Do you have a similar discouraging mantra of any kind? Something saying that you “can’t” do x or “can’t” do y? If so, might I suggest that you reevaluate? We really can do anything into which we’re willing to put effort. I’ll never again say that I can’t draw. And I’ll be on the lookout for similar thought processes so that I can set a new course wherever necessary.
Fair Winds!