Failing Creatively: Starting a new Workbook…
Embracing ways to grow your artistic talent
There is something kind of amazing about starting work in a new art book. In particular, I am fond of actually getting to scribble my name on the title page. For me, it means some fun work that isn’t required of me is coming ahead.
I will let you in on a small secret about me, though. When I was younger, I hated to write in my books. To me, it meant that the book would end, and if the book ended, then the anticipation of reading the book and working on the projects would be over. Then the satisfaction of creating would change to an uncertainty about what could and should be done next.
So, all that really meant was that so many ideas and practice hours went to waste. I wasn’t really trying new things, mostly because I’d get all caught up in my head about the book and what was the best way to start. But that didn’t stop me from being creative or artistic! I worked on a ton of art projects at school or in my sketchbook. But guess what? Many of those workbooks I looked at or even bought just ended up collecting dust. Not because I didn’t want to improve or develop my skills; it just felt like starting an art book meant it would be finished, and for some reason, my mind equated that with a sad thing, not a joyful thing for learning something new.
My children don’t appear to share the reservations I had about working in an art book. My youngest child, for instance, grabbed an extra art book I had lying around and promptly began adding all sorts of doodles to the pages, fulfilling the prompts they provided.
Nowadays, at least when it comes to cooking, I am far more likely to scribble in books when warranted. I have no qualms editing a recipe if I think there is a better way. Yet I noticed recently that my fun art books are starting to pile up unused again. I think for the new year I need to make time to really work on new projects and develop my skills. And hopefully I will discover new tips and ideas that can help more people than just me.
I would love to hear what books have helped you all develop and grow. My favorites, that weren’t the unused workbooks, were always the massive art books from films or cartoons. Seeing how all the creative people from the various art departments on a film or show came up with their ideas really inspired many a project in my sketchbook. So suggestions of what you all use or used would be greatly appreciated.
Till next time, keep failing creatively, and see you next week with some good news.
Thank you so much for joining me on my journey.
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