Tag Archives: painting

If I See a Picture in my Mind…

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Why can’t I draw/paint it? After all, it’s there in front of my eyes. I can see it. Clearly.

So what’s keeping me from taking a pen or pencil and sketching it on a piece of paper? What’s keeping my from painting it in the beautiful colors I see in my mind’s eye?

If it’s there where I can see it, why can’t I capture it so others can see it?

What’s stopping me? Actually it’s the fear that I can’t do it. My fear that it won’t be perfect. That it won’t look right. That it won’t be like what I see in my mind, because I keep telling myself I can’t do it.

What? Because I want it to be perfect as soon as I start. And that just isn’t going to happen. Because each of us has to start at the beginning of something…practice…keep at it; until we get to a point where we can say we’re pleased with what we created.

Like most of us, I don’t want to start out at the beginning and make mistake after mistake until I get it right. I want to be able to do it perfectly the first time.

And how many of us can say that we did that?  I daresay not many.

I know how to sew. I used to make most of my clothes a very long time ago. But I didn’t start out making tailored suits and such; I started out with aprons and simple skirts before I learned how to do the more complicated things.

I play the piano. Not a lot any more, although I’m starting to get back into it. When I first began, I could only play a few scales. I took weekly lessons and to practice daily. I had to learn how to read music, work at it, and that took time, and patience. I actually was very good at one time, and will be again, as long as I take the time to work at it again.

So why am I so frustrated when I try to do something else creative and I don’t do it right the first time? 

Most likely because the older I get, the less patience I have. I want to do it NOW, and not take the time to learn how to really make the most of the talents I have. I think I can draw and paint, but like the new music student I used to be, I couldn’t sit down that first day and play an entire song. I had to take my time and learn. And it didn’t happen overnight.

And now, although I have the desire, I finally realize I can’t just sit down and create a beautiful work of art without putting in the time it takes to learn how to do it. 

So what do you think? Is there something you want to do but don’t think you can? Try it. The only thing stopping you is yourself. 

Now I know I wrote about this last year, and I still haven’t really started my project. At least not like I wanted to. But I did try it, and finally finished my first piece. And yes, it’s a flamingo. And like my usual perfectionist self, I’m not totally happy with it.

But the thing is…I actually did it! It’s not great, but not what I thought it would be.

But it’s a start.

So now I’m going to stop beating myself up and resolve to learn to draw and paint the right way. I bought a couple of books, and THIS time I’m going to actually do all the exercises in them and practice my skills before I try another painting.

At least that’s my plan.  I may not ever sell a painting, but if I practice, and try it, and work at it, at least maybe I’ll create something frame worthy. For myself, if no one else.

And that’s what counts. So here I go….

Next time I write about my painting, I’m going to include a few pictures.

And hopefully in a few weeks!

What Have You Always Wanted to Do?

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Or you tried it once or twice and weren’t pleased with the results so you never tried it again?

When I was growing up, I liked to try my hand at making things, just like all kids do. Since my mother was a very talented seamstress, I guess I took after her and learned to sew. I actually was pretty good at it, and in my early teens I was actually making a lot of my own clothes. I even won a few awards for my skills.

But that desire to sew faded when I went to college, partly because I couldn’t take my sewing machine with me, and partly because it wasn’t the “cool” thing to do.

After college, and when I joined the working world, I didn’t have a lot of time for such hobbies. But as my mom started picking up new interests along with sewing, I tried my hand at crocheting and then needlepoint and hooking rugs and pillows. That was fun for awhile, but I just wanted to create more unique items. You know, my own designs rather than just buying a kit and following directions. So gradually I gave that up.

Then I discovered cake decorating. That looked like lots of fun, but there was one problem. Unfortunately I had no talent for even frosting a cake, or even cupcakes, let alone all the fancy flowers and designs the really talented bakers came up with. All I could do was look at pictures and just imagine all the work it took to do that, and realized it just wasn’t for me. Plus I really wouldn’t want to destroy my creation by eating it. That ended that endeavor before I even started it.

Cookie decorating maybe, because I do love to bake cookies? But the talent for decorating ended with applying sprinkles, because cookie decorating with icing required some talent for drawing, and well, it just wasn’t me. I’ll buy them from a bake shop.

I’ve always wanted to be able to draw and paint, but I never really seemed to have much talent for it. Sure, I did a few watercolors after starting the design by laboriously staring at other pictures and trying to make the flowers look like that picture, but I was never really happy with the results.

But now, after several years, I’ve decided to try again. I’ve read a lot about other newbie artists who thought they had no talent but tried anyway, and after realizing that their work didn’t have to be perfect, didn’t have to be a masterpiece, and didn’t have to be something they could sell to others, and didn’t have to look like what they were copying it from, they actually started enjoying it. It was what THEY created to make them happy. They weren’t out to please anyone but themselves.

So I figure, if I can make jewelry and be happy with the results, even when some of the knots show in my stretch bracelets, and the closures in my necklaces aren’t always perfect, why should I be so critical of something I draw or paint? It’s for me. It’s my style. If I like it that’s what counts.

I’ve always wanted to do it, so there’s no time like the present to try. I have my supplies, a few books about beginner techniques, and I’ve even sketched my first project. And yes, it’s a flamingo! I’ll let you know how it turns out.

What have you always wanted to do? There’s no time like right now to step out of your comfort zone and try it. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder if you really could. So stop wondering and start trying. You may be really pleased with accomplishments.