Lots of Talk About Fear and Making Art

No. 3, an idea that has not quite materialized as envisioned.

A few days ago I was reading art articles on the Web looking for ideas to add to an Exploring Color Workshop that I’ll be teaching next week.  I came across two quotes that I thought had more meaning in a few sentences than several entire articles I read about Artists and Fear.  One day in the painting class I teach, we were discussing why it’s so hard for artists to put themselves out there when they first start learning to paint.  One student said, “if you’re a musician and you flub a few notes when you practice, no one remembers a week later when you play it right, but if you’re an artist, that messed up painting is there staring at you every time you go in your studio.”  And we might add, “and everyone else can see it too.”  Then there’s the huge demon that seems to rest on many new artists’ shoulders –" I’ve got to produce a perfect painting the very first time I try to paint, especially if I’m in a workshop because everyone else is better than I am."  Would we expect to play Beethoven before we learned to read music?   Finally, there’s that belief that so many of us share that we need permission from someone (we don't know exactly who) – permission to try a new medium, permission to paint something no one else will find appealing, permission to paint something really dark and sinister or whatever.  For those who have ever had these fears – copy these quotes and post them where you make art:

IT’S NOT YOUR JOB TO TELL YOURSELF NO. It’s not your job to reject yourself or grade yourself or debate the value or worthiness of your ideas. YOUR JOB IS TO CREATE. Your job is to share. Your job is to overcome fear and run the race.

NOW IS AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY.  Do not wait for someone to give you permission to start.  [Just put down a mark!!]
                                                                                                      
 

Jinga, permission to try again came out better