Drawing Was the Art of Letting Go of Worries

I'm a perfectionist and control freak. I accept spent my entire life e'er planning ahead, agonizing virtually things being done a sure way, taking the lead on everything I do (even while dancing with a partner). I struggle when it comes to relaxing. I can't just be. I have also spent my unabridged life telling myself, "Just Let Go." It'due south my all encompassing mantra that reminds me to live in the present time, enjoy the moment, not set upward others to fail by pouring my particular expectations onto them, call up that every person looks at the world from a different bending and and so every person does everything just a lilliputian (or sometimes a lot) differently than anybody else.

I'm too someone who struggles with the idea that I cannot draw what I imagine inside my own head. Sure, I tin depict a representational image of something by dividing an image into squares and scaling information technology up to a new size. I tin can practise that fairly well. Only, I can't just draw something. I mean, I can, and I have several times, just I'm never satisfied with the style I practice it.

I can pinpoint a truly defining moment with this struggle that simply made things worse.
I was in an undergraduate effigy cartoon course and had spent one-half the class (almost 2 hours) on a single cartoon of a live model. I was using charcoal at the time and really trying to have the confidence in my drawing, trying to embrace my own fashion, trying to be okay with the fact that it didn't look like a man. It looked like something close to a human, simply it wasn't perfect. While I was working insanely hard at my easel my professor walked over and erased my work. Then he said, "That's wrong" and carried on his mode. With that nonchalant swipe of his hand he verified what my inner critic had been screaming at me my unabridged life. That I wasn't good enough. That I'm a fake. That I would never exist perfect. It sucked.

I have a feeling I'm non the just one who has experienced something like this (whether art course related or not).

It still hurts to this day to recollect about that feel. I understand that there'south a technique to fine art. I'thousand not trying to downplay that aspect of information technology. And, I did practice cartoon and I did get ameliorate. But, I desire to highlight something else here. I want to recognized that artist inside all of united states of america that is screaming to go out. That one that comes from your gut, that just flows when you're not overthinking everything. She came out of me during undergrad just hours before an assignment was due. I would create and create and create and hate it all and so when the timer was about to become off, I would brand something that I never thought possible. I had to stop thinking, over analyzing, worrying virtually what everyone would call back. I would have to just brand something. And, those were the projects that always received the highest scores.

Subsequently undergrad, I carried on and continued to make artwork and as time passed I learned to let go. I learned to embrace myself. Cover my fashion. I let myself make the fine art that came out of me. I stopped making the art I thought other people wanted me to make.

And then, why am I telling you all of this?

The judgement Lisa, myself, and our volunteers hear most when nosotros ask, "Hey, yous want to take an art break?" is

"I tin't depict."

Ugh. Art is Moving wants to help you flick that airheaded troll from your shoulder and just allow go.

Let get of your idea of what cartoon is.
Let get of what you think art is.
Let go of the product and dive deep into the process.

My mom had the all-time response this Fine art Break Day. She said,

Simply grab a pen or some paint and swish it effectually for awhile.

It worked! Someone who was hesitant decided to join the fun and left feeling invigorated.

Art should be relaxing. It shouldn't brand you experience inadequate. Art should leave you less stressed. It shouldn't make you beat yourself up and captivate over some idea of what art is supposed to look like.

Then, today, I'1000 hoping to requite you lot an art break idea that will help you

But Let Get

Let become of preconceived notions.
Only play. Have fun.
Finish caring about what information technology will look like at the stop and just exercise it.

In nearly every chat I accept with my Dad he says something forth the lines of "It'due south about the journey."

And, yous know what, he's right.

Then, let'due south get on an art break journey today and run across what we uncover.

Ok, allow's TAKE AN ART BREAK!

The Recipe

Materials Needed:

• A Pen or a Pencil
• Paper
• A Identify to Sit

Instructions:

1. Grab your supplies and find a place to sit down for a scrap. You only take 60 seconds per activeness, so be prepare to dive in!
2. Prepare a timer for 60 seconds.
3. Put your pen or pencil in your not-ascendant hand.
4. Start your timer.
5. Describe the first thing you see using your non-ascendant paw.
6. When the timer goes off, switch hands.
7. Commencement your timer.
8. Draw the same thing again, but with your eyes closed.

Every time I exercise these "Letting Go" exercises with a new group I receive the aforementioned response. There's always someone who mentions that they put less pressure on themselves when they used their non dominant hand. Information technology's as though they hadn't established any rules or notions about that manus's ability so it could only do information technology. It could only describe and make fine art. No preconceived ideas attached. And, similar with the closing of one's optics. When yous can't see what yous're drawing your can't guess what you're drawing. You lot just draw.

-Lauren Odell Usher Sharpton

Co-Founding Director of Art is Moving

Feel like sharing? Mail a photo and add #TakeAnArtBreak

Reflection Questions:

1. How did it feel to just focus on the procedure and non the final product?
2. Did you lot accept more than success "letting go" using your non-dominant hand or closing your optics? Why?
3. What exercise you think would happen if yous did this do every day for a calendar week? Or a calendar month?

---

Experience free to read more nearly the

benefits of fine art on our resource pagehither.

Aid Art is Moving help others feel the positive bear upon of art

ablesneave1973.blogspot.com

Source: https://artismoving.org/just-let-go/

Share this post