One of the things I hear all the time from people when I talk about my art journal journey is "well, I'm not an artist." Time to call out that lie! Okay, so maybe you think you aren't an artist. I get that. I bought into that lie for a long time, and even got rid of some of my art because it "wasn't good."I can't draw to save my life, and if you really want to know the truth about my art, I can't even draw a straight line. In fact, I can't even TRACE an object without really messing it up. My art is messy, imperfect, and will probably never hang in a gallery. But I don't care. It's my art, and it's expressing what I need to express. Sometimes not as fully as I'd like, but that's okay!
This week's art challenge was to use something we got in the mail to make art. I recently received a card from a friend, and I decided the envelope was pretty, and to use it. She and I are part of a group of long-distance friends who call ourselves the Bat Girls. As I thought about what I wanted to do with the envelope, I thought, what a great chance to pray for my friends. So I made art. I prayed for my friends. I thanked God for having them in my life. I prayed for their needs. I prayed we could see each other again soon.
Since we are the Bat Girls, I wanted the batman logo on it too. I downloaded the logo, cut it out, and traced it. Here's the part you need to notice as you carefully examine the picture. My lines are all messed up! I did a terrible job cutting it out, and an even more terrible job tracing it. BUT I DON'T CARE. Every artist has a signature something, so maybe mine is that it's never going to be perfectly traced or lined. There is so much I can't do well, but if I wait until I get it perfect, I'm not going to start. So I do what I can, and I love it, imperfections and all.
If you're curious about making art, or want to try, then I encourage you to JUST DO IT!! Don't worry about being perfect, getting it right, or even that your kids are a thousand times more talented than you. Even if it's just stick figures, your art is for you. Don't let someone else's standards of good art get in the way of expressing yourself.
2 comments:
"My art is messy, imperfect, and will probably never hang in a gallery."
I'm calling you out, Danica.
Create your own gallery! One wall, a hallway, a room. Doesn't matter. Gather your art, your kids' art, your husband's art and hang it up, prop on easels, & put the sculptures on pedestals. The trick is to group art pieces together in odd numbers.
PS. Have you noticed all the straight lines in Nature? I'd say you're a natural.
Ah, Sue... you are good for me. I actually do have my own gallery. :) We have one of those metal wire things to hang pictures on near my art area, and I've got art I made hanging there mixed in with art from my kids. So I guess I should have said that it probably won't be in some professional New York fancy gallery. But hey, they've got some weird stuff, so who knows??
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