Early creative development
It could be that you’re struggling with the “I can’t Draw or Paint” myth simply because of your environment when you were young. When you’re first picking up a crayon as a child, there aren’t many inhibitions. You can scribble till your heart’s content! As you get older you start to tune in to the feedback that you get from your drawings. Did you get complimented? Did a parent scoop it up and throw it in the trash? Did you or how did you get corrected or encouraged?
Moving into school, your peers and teachers play a huge role in encouraging your creative juices. You also may be comparing yourself to others around you – thinking that their drawings or paintings are so much better. So what do you do or did you do about it? That leads us to the whole genetics.
Genetics
There’s no getting around it – people are made up of different stuff. You have your socialites, your talkers, your introverts, creatives, etc.
Because of how we’re built and our brain chemistry some are just naturally better at the creative side. So what can be done about it?
Solutions to the “why I can’t paint” problem:
Stop comparing yourself to others
The imposter syndrome is real! That inner voice keeps saying, “I’m no good at drawing and painting”. Stop listening and push through the resistance to stop drawing! Someone is always going to be better than you and I. Use yourself as a guide – do you see improvement in your drawings and paintings over time? Some of the most famous paintings are some that I scratch my head over wondering who would want that hanging on their wall – did someone say “The Scream“?. Painting and drawing is an expression of yourself, your feelings, and your interpretation of the world around you. Relax, have fun and express yourself the way you want through your paintings and drawings.
Practice drawing and painting exercises.
There are lots of steps you can take to improve drawing technique and to get your brain to think in a different way. You can try to flip a reference image upside down and think more about the shapes and placement in a new way. You can listen to music or have a conversation with someone while working to take your mind off of the details that might hang you up. One of my best acrylic paintings was done while talking to my creative daughter on the phone. I felt like my mind was in a little different place and I was happily surprised with the results! Call it “distracted painting” if you will!
Join a Group
Painting with others can help to spur you on to keep at it. You can pick up tips and tricks from others. It can put your painting and drawing exercises on a regular schedule rather than just when you get around to it. Just being with the right group can make your painting time fun.
Keep it Simple
Don’t try to do a masterpiece all at once. Do mini painting sessions on smaller sheets of paper or canvas. Do a small study – a part of what might be in a larger painting. For instance practice drawing a tree shape, a small reflective pool, an apple, etc. Also keep your painting tools handy. If you have to go through an entire process to get started you may not do it.
– So, let me know what you think! Are you seeing improvement in your paintings over time? Are you blocking out the imposter in you? Let’s get painting and drawing!