March - Can being brave with art lead to being in life?

One of the most challenging projects I ever set for myself in art lead directly to me teaching this course. I wanted to push myself beyond what I was comfortable with, in particular beyond my “style”. I decided to make a small sketchbook where I would “recreate” the style of artists I admire. Initially, I was worried this process would be merely imitation and whatever I created would just be a cheap knockoff of their much better work.

Then it struck me that “seeing” art is much different than “making” art. To follow the curve of a face with your eye is one thing, but to make your hand do the movement is another. There are a million little decisions you need to make about hand position, strength of stroke, pressure on the page and so much more.

I set myself an impossible task of one artist a week. I had a pool of artists I like to draw from, but I did some very intense research in addition to merely “liking” their work. The more I researched, the more excited (and terrified!) I got. What was I thinking?!

But I stuck to it and created a lovely little book (okay, some parts are not *that* lovely) which felt like a university education in art. I was creatively exhausted at the end. But I was also inspired. Not only to make more art in styles that were unfamiliar to me, but to try other things in life that were unfamiliar to me. It was the push I needed to take myself more seriously. I suddenly found I wanted to go out and explore new things and find people to share them with.

It was about this time I was approached to teach this class, and while I realized I’m no expert (in art or teaching), I wanted to be part of an environment where others could explore new territory, too.

Will being brave in your journal (and your art) make you braver in life? Based on my experience, I’d say yes. One of the things we gain with practice is confidence. We learn how materials work (or don’t). We learn how colours work together (or don’t). It’s only by playing, by pushing the boundaries, that we can make our comfort zone bigger and bigger.

The same is true in life. I always say if we could accurately remember how it felt to be learning how to walk when we were babies we’d probably never try anything new in our lives again. All that falling down! All that frustration and crying! But we DO eventually learn to walk (and a zillion other things) and all those things were once outside our comfort zone. As we grow older sometimes we become more set in our ways, less inclined to take risks. We may become more aware of what we’re up against, and tend to avoid straying off comfortable, well-worn paths.

Personally, I think there’s also an age we get to a level of inner frustration where we feel it’s imperative to take risks again. I believe our inner self wants to be brave, and is just waiting for us to have the tools and confidence to go exploring again.

Some things to think about while on your way:

• Know that you’ve always been learning new things and you’ll keep on learning new things all your life. Learning never stops. At the very least, we’re all learning how to be older than we were yesterday.

• Be alert to the “tipping point” in things you already know how to do. Be alert to that delicate moment when you decide to do something and then actually take action. See if you can figure out where the tipping point for a new experience might be.

• Do as much research as you need to be aware of possible outcomes you can expect. But know that you can’t know everything ~ there will always be surprises.

• Allow yourself to have doubts, but don’t let them limit how far you’ll go.

• Take a few deep breaths and plunge in when you're ready.

What I want for you in this class: "Step outside your comfort zone and see things in a new way."

I've often found my most interesting experiences (and the most alive I've felt!) is outside my comfort zone, even with something as calm and solitary as art-making can be.

Here's more than a month's worth of ways to be brave:

• Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling.

• Let go of people who continually let you down.

• Look at yourself in the mirror with kindness.

• Tell someone you love them.

• Write your own story.

• Share your thoughts.

• Risk being wrong.

• Try something new for the first time.

• Trust your instincts.

• Set boundaries.

• Put pen to paper.

• Sing a song.

• Dance.

• Tolerate discomfort (bravery doesn’t always feel good).

• Make a mistake.

• Follow your heart.

• Say, “I don’t know.”

• Ask for help.

• Share your vulnerability.

• Face your problems.

• Let the past be the past.

• Allow yourself to be in the photo.

• Take a picture of yourself.

• Trust your ideas, even the crazy ones.

• Stand up for someone who is being picked on.

• Be your own beloved.

• Stand up against prejudice.

• Say no to the things you don't want.

• Say yes to the things you do.

• Wear something ridiculous just because you like it.

• Be the first person to reach out after a conflict.

• Give a stranger a flower.

• Ask someone how they are, and really listen.

• Let go of your need to control everything.

• Embrace your weirdness.

• Don’t react to criticism.

• Give someone a hug.

• Say kind things to yourself.

• Invite feedback.

• Let go of being busy.

• Be open to changing course.

• Remember, bravery is not the absence of fear.

• Begin again.