Managing Expections Pep Talk
- Ann Marie Hershberger
- May 27, 2024
- 4 min read
Ok, so you have some paper and a pencil at a minimum. So far so good.
Let’s check the anxiety level. Is the thought of starting this causing it to rise?
Why do we do this to ourselves? I’m not sure. We wouldn’t expect to start as a CEO when starting a new job. We wouldn’t expect to have the highest team stats when playing a new sport. So give yourself a break. This is the beauty of art. It. Can. Be. Learned. Contrary to what you may have grown up believing, it is not reserved to the realms of the “naturally talented and gifted.” Sure, there are some kiddos who show a natural aptitude for certain skills be they athletic, artistic, musical, emotional IQ, etc. . . But with practice and interest and support art, drawing, muscle memory, hand to eye coordination, can be strengthened. It’s really more about our ability to handle the “messy middle.”
Much like many skills we have to have a certain tolerance for opposing ideas such as “I’m really struggling with this right now in the moment” while also believing and visualizing “I can become really good at this, much like (insert your favorite artist, athlete, musician, etc. . . ).” This is called the dialectic, or, the ability to hold two truths, often in opposition to each other, simultaneously. As you practice painting, there is a well-recognized and often discussed stage of a painting that is a real struggle, often before an artist finds resolution and breathes a sigh of relief. We have to stick it out to put it in plain language. Those who paint often practice this and through experience, know that it will resolve eventually. The question is, then, how do we best support ourselves through the messy, skill-building stage to stick with it long enough to derive satisfaction especially if we are new?
The Importance of Community
We have most likely all heard the African proverb, “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together.” Well this applies to the art world as well. Joining a group to practice, like a plein air group or sketching class or community open studio provides the balm needed when bumping up and bruising our egos as we learn a skill and experience struggle. Our art buddies will keep us coming back. Sure we go to learn and practice but we are just as much there for that friendly smile and encouragement. Online communities can be great as well (if chosen wisely and carefully) and an option if your schedule is packed or at a stage of life that doesn’t allow for too much, if any, free time. (I’m looking at you, young moms and dads!). Being part of a group also implies a certain amount of commitment. We are aware that we need to show up for one another. That’s a gift.
Skill Building
Taking a class to build skills and get on good habits right from the beginning is truly important as well. When my sons wanted to do weight lifting, I agreed to pay for the gym but only if they went to a trainer first in a small gym where they could learn proper technique. This is a confidence builder and will pay dividends repeatedly. Same for art.
Routine
This can be a real point of friction for us. I’m guilty of it. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. How do we create a habit loop . . . ? Often by tacking on a new habit to an established habit. For example, if I want to take a vitamin every morning I can put it next to my toothbrush which is already an established habit. Sometimes, we have to do more like having reminders on our phones or visual prompts. Another great book if you haven’t read it already, Atomic Habits, does a deep dive into establishing healthy habits and diminishing unhealthy ones.
What about art and sketching? Here are some thoughts: set a timer. You are only going to sketch for 10 minutes a day. Can you do it with your morning coffee/tea? Can it be a judgement-free zone where you practice a technique or just play with a line or new medium? Can you put a sticky note on your laptop- “no social media scrolling until 10 minutes of sketching has passed”? If there was a way to exercise and sketch at the same time I’d be all over that but haven’t figured that out yet. The closest I come is wandering around deciding what to paint or sketch en plein air. One more thing. Become aware of how you feel after 10 minutes of sketching. Stop and say it out loud. Reinforce the awareness of how much more calm and relaxed and present you feel after sketching for 10 minutes.
So ends my pep talk for the week. I’ve added some links below to get you going with some sketching habit skills and techniques to try this week. Set a time for 10 minutes on your phone and have your pencil and paper or sketchbook or whatever other drawing medium you like on the counter ready to go at all times or in a clipboard container for your car. Baby steps. Next week we’ll attack some specific drawing skills. Go team!
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