Monthly Column by Dorothy Jackson Smith |
BEGINNING ARTISTS
I hear so many people say that they want to be
an artist, but they don't have any talent. Then again, I also hear the question, "Do
you think I have talent?" all the time. And the last phrase that I hear all the time
is "I'd like to be an artist, I used to draw (or whatever) in high school, but I
haven't had the time. "
I will give you some of my answers to those questions. Number one is that to be human is
to have artistic talent. Reasoning gives us another way of seeing and understanding the
physical world. It gives us the ability to bend the rules when we interpret an object and
to use emotion to describe our feelings. These are the building blocks of art. The artist
is someone who has found a way to get in touch with the creative side of themselves and I
believe that we are creative because we are a reasoning animal. By the way many other
animals have shown the ability to create artwork, including elephants and chimpanzees and
they've made quite a lot of money for the zoos through sales of their work. So That takes
care of the first comment. Everyone has talent, they just have to discover it. You may not
end up being Van Gogh, but you could be a skilled artist.
Number two, I've already told you that everyone has talent, so this is more of
philosophical answer. Almost all of us seek approval for our accomplishments and that is a
valid thing to do. But you must never take one persons opinion and hold it as the measure
of your worth. Artists are always discovering their voice, stretching our boundaries is
what makes art so wonderful. So if someone tells you that your work is terrible, keep at
it and make them eat their words, seek the opinions of more positive people and try to get
constructive criticism.
And now I will address the last comment, because it is the most important dividing factor
for those who can and those who can't become artists. Art is hard work! If you don't
practice all the time and take classes and find the time to do it, then you will be bad at
it. So the most important ingredient in the recipe for being a good artist is commitment.
And I guarantee you, commitment is the factor that will stop most people from becoming
proficient artists. You gotta want to do it and you gotta work hard or you will never ever
be a good artist. And if you do have that desire and you do put in the effort and you take
classes and practice, practice, practice -- I guarantee you will become a good artist.
Dorothy J Smith's Monthly Columns
