Painting like a child

I often hear adults compare their artistic abilities to that of a child.  That description is typically meant to devalue their attempts at creating art considered worthy by other adults.

One of my personal creative goals for 2019 was to loosen up in my technique as an artist.  I have made many attempts to loosen up but continue to feel frustrated when I find myself falling back into my comfort zone.  As a professional artist and also an art teacher I toggle back and forth between the art that I create to sell or that will hang in my studio and the art that will be used as demonstration pieces for my kids art classes.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I had an epiphany while creating one such demo piece. I approach the art I create to inspire children differently than I do my own!  Unconsciously I let my mind become that of a child’s. I enjoy creating my “grown up” art, don’t get me wrong, but I found that when I go to create a piece of art that a child will ultimately create I tend to approach that piece with a free and happy abandon! I’m not as focused on technique, composition or whether or not those kinds of flowers really exist in nature.  Instead I find myself working quickly and loosely and feeling quite whimsical with my color choices.  There is no judgment or worry that this piece won’t look grown up or be worthy of an adult audience. It is created with 100% carefree abandon. 

I think I found the magic elixir. I solved the problem that has plagued my grown up artist mind.  It is simply painting like a child.  So the next time an adult compares their artistic abilities to that of a child I will let them know that it is a good thing!  A wonderful place to begin and a state of creating I hope that I never forget again.