Hi Kim: Wow – that’s an intense story. Thank you for sharing it here. I can only hope that you get more and more exposure to the openness and freedom of expressive and mindful creating, and that it continues to open the door for your inner artist to play. She deserves it richly.
xo

Kerri – I so appreciate your comment – I think it will help a lot of folks to know that even someone with formal training feels this way sometimes. Happy creating!

This really spoke to me. The inner self critic is one of my artists blocks, as well as expecting the first thing I sit sown to draw will be perfect. I went to art school, and I had a painting instructor that I really connected with. He saw my artists blocks right away. He told me that even he does 20 drawings before he has one he likes. That really stuck with me. I no longer beat myself up over not having a perfect drawing. I really enjoy the weekly slow drawing lessons. I really enjoy creating several pieces of one pattern. I can see how each one gets just a litte better.

Hi Myrtle:

Oh yes, I have heard a lot of folks talk about the waning interest. If you truly want to get to the bottom of it, a lot of my mentorees and students have found it helpful to examine this phenomena more closely. Perhaps pull out your journal and start to ask yourself some questions about the process and what comes up. When do you get bored? What are the thoughts coming up prior to boredom? Is there discouragement before the boredom? Negative self-talk? Frequently, when folks slow down the process, they find that the boredom comes becomes they have been dismissing their efforts and so it’s no longer fun. There’s a sense of, “Why bother?” If you decide to look into it further, Myrtle, and by chance found something similar, my free class, Creative Self-Care has some exercises that might be of great help with the critic. All the best.

Hi Leslie: I believe that leaving the critic behind is a matter of experimenting with the set up, such as the Inchie Challenge, that feels most fun and inviting, and then sticking to it. For some, that will be this challenge, for others something else. I believe we are all worth it. xo

Jan! I am SO SORRY about what this misguided teacher said to you. We can only assume that these folks were treated just as harshly, and that’s all they had to give back. What they should have said was, “Wow – look at the way you used those colors and lines. I love the way you’ve used the space. Well done.” Because you know what? It was. You feel you have an inner artist, because you do. That’s why you’re here. Be gentle with her, know she needs a gentle hand and encouragement, and make that space for her. She will come out more and more. Big hugs,

I also had a similar experience. My Grade 3 teacher viewed my art and told me that I had no artistic ability. I took it to heart and didn’t even try after that. My report cards in later grades stated that my work was incomplete or I didn’t hand in all the assignments. Why bother? I didn’t take art in high school either. Obviously, it would be a waste of my time. It’s interesting because I feel like I have art in me. I literally struggle doing a stick figure and I don’t have an eye for detail but I still feel like I have art within me that needs to come out. I’m going to clear off my desk and make some time to play.