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Listen to Classical | Listen to Jazz | Listen to 50s - 80s Rock "There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story." ~Linda Hogan Paintings Drawings Photos Artdrum.com Art Journal Various Artists Arts Contact |
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Can I learn to Paint?
Can I learn to paint? Can you learn to paint? Could it be that learning and mastering an art has as much or more to do with searching for & applying correct knowledge than with innate skill? In considering historical artists, even masters who have the highest level of skill, Beethoven, Mozart or Rembrandt, for instance, I can consider that the development of their mastery required at least as much searching and applying as it did innate skill. Simply put, they were not always full fledge masters. For the last symphony of Beethoven could never have been written in the early or middle parts of his career. And the same is true for the work of all masters. That's part of the beauty of the artistic process, it grows finer with age, particularly if it's pursued with interest during practice, study and play. In considering personal examples such as myself, who learned to paint in my early twenties, or a friend who learned to paint when he was in his mid-fifties, I know from experience that interest is more important than innate skill. The will is an amazing thing and should never be underestimated no matter how talented or seemingly untalented a person is. Several years ago I had the good fortune to observe a friend in his mid fifties begin the journey of watercolor painting. Prior to this journey, this friend exclaimed to me with conviction, "I can't even draw a straight line." Yet I replied with conviction, and firsthand experience, "Anyone can learn." Now, up until his mid-fifties this friend had not practiced nor shown any interest in any art. He was in business for his career, owned a successful technology company and enjoyed playing sports all of his life. Yet when he develop an interest in painting, he studied; he read; he watched; he observed with interest. The result? He learned to paint. And he learned how to draw straight lines. In due time he created fine watercolors and now he forever has the knowledge and experience for creating thoughtful and pretty paintings. Indeed, as far as learning art goes, if one simply has the interest, one can learn. |
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