“Don’t divide people into creative and non creative …and touch the Snake!”
I stumbled across this speech by David Kelley – it is a bit long, but I really loved the message.
It also reminded me on a blog post I did back in 2010- and I would like to repost it in connection with this video:
Art in School – originally posted August 3rd, 2010
A couple of days ago on my walk to work I suddenly remembered one of my former art teachers. It was a weird flashback – I totally forgot the name of the teacher- all I remember is that he just finished art school and he was this bohemian guy…black jeans, black shirt, black thick framed glasses, some schal around his neck, black hair and pale. I was 15 – so it was 1988 and as far as I remember I liked art lessons in school…but it wasn’t really too thrilling. Most of the times we would look at paintings of old masters and think about what the artist wanted to tell you with this painting or we would learn other theory stuff.
Then there was this art teacher…we all were totally in Love with him. He was so fun.We were allowed to actually walk around in class and talk to each other while trying all kinds of mediums and tools and actually do stuff. One day he brought in a camera and took portrait photos of us and then a couple of weeks later he came in with several projectors and we all projected our own slide onto the wall and started painting in chalk our own portrait. I remember my portrait had a big shadow on one side of the face as the lightning for the photos wasn’t that good and I was really really sad…he came and said “don’t worry…just paint something else into your face- ask your inner self what you see in that shadow” and I painted a tree growing out of my face. I loved this painting so much and I was soo proud of myself. One day he came in with big tubes of Acrylic Paint and let us paint whatever we wanted – forms over and over on big rolls of paper. I painted eyes over and over and then I picked an area which I liked the most and cut it out. I had fun while doing them- I felt free and happy. I can’t find the chalk painting- I don’t know where I put it after moving several times- but while looking for it …I found the eye piece….I’m sure some of you think it is ugly…I don’t care…LOL – I still love it…it has memories…happy memories!
He was only there for a semester …he gave me confidence that I was talented and he had me find fun in art. When he was gone we were all sad but I looked forward to our new teacher and the lessons. The first lesson came and we were supposed to draw our eraser with a pencil – I did. The art teacher looked at my drawing and said ” you have no talent for art” ….and I was so disappointed but I believed it and I was done….I never felt free and happy with art again….until many years later….I just thought I was not the artsy type of person and I had no talent at all. I forgot that I had fun with paint the semester before. When I look at the eye painting…I see that my Love for paint has been there all the time. How fun that I found it again just now.
What I want you to tell with this story? Don’t get discouraged too easily by what other people say or in comparing yourself with others…the most important thing is that YOU have fun in what you do and how you do it. All the rest…is unimportant! If YOU think you are an artist… YOU are! If YOU think you are creative …YOU are! Don’t let others dictate on how you feel about your creative outlet! Just be!
I might add: TOUCH THE SNAKE!
Nat
Comments (6)
Jessica Sporn
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what a wonderful video. Thank you for sharing it.
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Jenny Palmer
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Thanks Nat
I have had 2 great teachers but they were in my adult life when my first 2 kids were babies I studied dressmaking printing spinning and both those teachers were only there for a short time as other staff members made life hard for them as they were not conventional
they were brillant to this day they still encourage me with memories of them and of what I did while I learnt under them but as soon as they left and the other teachers took over the classes the negativity was back.
I have noticed in my life anyway that creativity created jealousy and I cannot understand why people are like that[I cant draw or paint so I will tell you that you cant]
It happened to me and now I am just getting my creativity backletting myself heal and find just how much art means to me.
I love your “eyes” and snakes are so soft to touch and so exciting to hold
Have a great day
Jenny
waves from Tassie
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Sue Clarke
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Funny how you used wonderful and bright colors as early as the eye painting.
Shame on that teacher for making a negative comment. He probably had someone stifle his creativity as a child. Off to watch the video.
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Milagros
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Efectivamente tienes toda la razón, solo hay que hacer caso de tu voz interior.
Abrazos.
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Janet
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Oh No my dear Nat! I think your eye painting is fantastic! It Looks like you had fun! And Shame on your art teacher who said you had no talent. That would crush a child for sure. Did you ever search out your bohemian art teacher again? Wouldn’t that be interesting to know how many lives he touched? And how many artists he encouraged? Good for you to follow your dreams anyways!
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mjmarmo
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This is perfect!! I have a twin sister and a mom who got all the artistic genes!! For years I compared myself and led myself to believe I was not artistic. i did scrapbook but that appealed more to my math and at side. Well, guess what – I have stated doing mixed media collages and while they might not be as artistic as my sister’s, I like and them and am having fun. I just used that quote on a journal page! Thanks for your inspiration!
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