I can’t draw.
At least that’s what I’ve always told myself. I can design things, as long as I have my computer and Adobe Creative Suite. I can write. I can take and edit photographs. I can even do mixed media artwork that I don’t hate from time to time. But, “I can’t draw.”
I’ve been visiting art supply stores on a regular basis for over 10 years. I’ve bought sketchbooks, pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, canvases, drawing pads, acrylic paints, brushes, markers, and pens. I’ve purchased Mod Podge, rubber cement, an X-acto knife, and a drafting table. I’ve taken a painting class, a drawing class, and have seen tons of gallery and museum exhibits.
I can’t draw.
Just recently I realized that I’ve never really TRIED to draw. Sure, I doodled on acrylic boxes with paint pens in seventh grade and probably lugged home lots of pink crayon drawings when I was five. But I’ve never really sat around with a drawing pad and practiced drawing, or just doodled to see what happens when you work on different textures of paper with different types of pencils or pens.
Lately I’ve been doing this exercise that I call “meditative sketching.” I’ve been posting some of the drawings on Instagram. Which, by the way you guys, is now my very favorite social media playground. First it was Facebook, then Twitter, then Pinterest, then Twitter again, now Instagram. What about you?
Anyway…by taking any sort of expectation or pressure off when I picked up my pencils, I was able to relax into the moment and allow my hand to draw freely over the page. It really felt like a meditation. Yes, I was watching Veronica Mars when I did it, but so what? OMG, that show is awesome. I’m on the end of season 2. Don’t tell me anything!
I’ve been experimenting with color palettes, paper textures and weights, and the amount of pressure I use when I put pencil to paper.
I also reminded myself that everything that I do or have done in my creative life, I once couldn’t do.
I literally had graphic design software on my computer for over a year before I ever opened it for more than five minutes. Seriously. It was just daunting. I “couldn’t” option a screenplay, take photographs worthy of publication, design logos and marketing strategies for clients, or tell movie studios how to promote their films.
I couldn’t do any of these things. Now I can.
Negative self-talk isn’t helpful. Next time you tell yourself that you can’t do something that you really want to do, make sure you’ve explored all your options. Are there things that you’re NOT doing now that could help you reach your goals? Have you thought about other ways that you could it?
The way that everyone else does it won’t always be right for you. Sometimes your way is better.
This post is part of a creativity project that I’m participating in at the beautiful Besotted Brand blog called Inspiration Rx. Michelle from Vicinity Studio is leading the project and it’s going to be fun.
This week’s prompt is EMERGING.
There’s still time to participate!
Have a great weekend! xoxo