Talent vs Practice

This morning I was setting up a small exhibition at Doctor Espresso, opposite Putney Bridge Underground Station with the owners Vanessa and Russell. They kindly invited me to display work from 4th- 12th October. Vanessa described how she loved drawing at school and we talked about how one hones perception through repeated considered practice, to develop what others call talent.

For those of you who are new to drawing and painting, these are activities that have been useful for by passing anxieties about spoiling white paper/making a mess,not being good enough ( you could even use newspaper/cardboard/scrap):

Light a small tealight, place it on a white sheet of paper out of direct sunlight, and with a dark pencil (at least 3B) /charcoal stick, look at the contrasting tones from the lightest/darkest areas and in between. What do you see? Spend three times a slong looking as drawing. Shade the paper accordingly.

Next, always carry a sketchbook and pencil, and an aquapen! Waiting at bus stops, on trains, at appts can be perfect for observation.

In addition to the inherent rewards of observational sketching and drawing, the creative process can also be a window to the subconscious, used by Art Therapists and in workshops by the Art and Spirituality network. For more information go to www.artandspirituality.net or try this suggestion from Seeding the Spirit:

Prepare some watercolour paint/2 colours of ink and wet a piece of paper. Dip one paint brush into one colour and one into the other. Hold one brush in each hand. Eyes closed, pause for 3 breaths, then in your own time keeping eyes closed, make marks with each brush on the wet paper. Open your eyes and look at the result so far. Notice if you jump in with a criticism/judgement/negative thought, or not. Just play and explore with adding or taking away water/paint (with dry brush/tissue/cotton wool) and making marks.

Now you're an artist! And as the inspirational Janet Weight Reed recommends- Play with paint!