Do you think you can learn to be artistic?

[PollyannaMom]

...Like I tell my preschoolers the only rule about art is there are no rules about art. Every one of them does a masterpiece every time, even if it looks like Picasso and Pollack had a wrestling match in paint, if they like it then it's art to them.

Love the quote! (and the funny observation, too)

 

[lizabu]

Crochet is such a great hobby and perfect for this time of year. My great Aunt could knock out afghans like no tomorrow, she was so fast and I swear she did it without looking.

Crochet is a good suggestion. And if you don't want to keep the stuff you can donate it. I know our local AIDS society is collecting red scarves for world AIDS day and the hospital is collecting purple infant hats for a SIDs awareness thing they are doing. The humane society wants blankets for cats and dogs. The list goes on and on.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think you can learn a skill and a technique but not the ability to create "art" if that makes sense. I can teach people all day about lighting but just because they have the technical knowledge behind how we make decisions in theatrical lighting it doesn't mean they will ever grasp how to make the "right" decisions or how to sculpt using light.

Just like you can learn how to crochet or knit but you may never figure out how to make your own patterns or do things free hand. Same with paintings. I have a lot of friends who go to painting and wine classes and make great pieces of work but if they had to sit and do it on their own they would have 0 clue where to start. So if someone shows them exactly how to hold the brush and where to put the paint they can do it and can make a fine piece but there are unable to make something form scratch on their own. I'm similar. I can not do realistic drawings no matter how many courses I took in college. Drove my professors insane because they loved my designs but I could never provide the drawn pitches that are needed in the early stages of drawing. Now that I'm out of school I do a digital version of those drawing but it still isn't the accepted way so getting chosen out of all the other designers has been hard. I just do it for fun now.

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

How about photography? If you like being outdoors, this may be a way to keep fit as well. There are usually many photography classes offered at local community colleges for not too much money.

 

[lizabu]

I think you can learn a skill and a technique but not the ability to create "art" if that makes sense. I can teach people all day about lighting but just because they have the technical knowledge behind how we make decisions in theatrical lighting it doesn't mean they will ever grasp how to make the "right" decisions or how to sculpt using light.

Just like you can learn how to crochet or knit but you may never figure out how to make your own patterns or do things free hand. Same with paintings. I have a lot of friends who go to painting and wine classes and make great pieces of work but if they had to sit and do it on their own they would have 0 clue where to start. So if someone shows them exactly how to hold the brush and where to put the paint they can do it and can make a fine piece but there are unable to make something form scratch on their own. I'm similar. I can not do realistic drawings no matter how many courses I took in college. Drove my professors insane because they loved my designs but I could never provide the drawn pitches that are needed in the early stages of drawing. Now that I'm out of school I do a digital version of those drawing but it still isn't the accepted way so getting chosen out of all the other designers has been hard. I just do it for fun now.

I think even if you're not naturally artistic you can still get a lot of joy from being creative. Personally I can copy a drawing or a craft but it's a lot harder to come up with something completely on your own. Even when it comes to home decor I might copy an idea out of a magazine. I didn't get the hanging picture gene or the arranging furniture gene. But in the end I can still be happy with the finished product.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think even if you're not naturally artistic you can still get a lot of joy from being creative. Personally I can copy a drawing or a craft but it's a lot harder to come up with something completely on your own. Even when it comes to home decor I might copy an idea out of a magazine. I didn't get the hanging picture gene or the arranging furniture gene. But in the end I can still be happy with the finished product.

I didn't say you couldn't be happy with it. I think a lot of people can get happiness out of the group lead art classes or from copying home decor etc from what they find on line. I just don't think everyone can learn how to do it independently with out guidance or make money off of it.

 

[lizabu]

I didn't say you couldn't be happy with it. I think a lot of people can get happiness out of the group lead art classes or from copying home decor etc from what they find on line. I just don't think everyone can learn how to do it independently with out guidance or make money off of it.

I'm sorry if it seemed like I was saying that you said that. I was simply adding on to something you said.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm sorry if it seemed like I was saying that you said that. I was simply adding on to something you said.

No problem. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a quote is just adding on to the initial posters thoughts or simply in reply to it. No harm done

 

[dashofsunshine]

I'm a visual artist professionally, received a BFA in studio art, and have been painting and drawing since I was 11. I give lessons in most all forms of studio art, and I see people who have never touched a pastel or a paintbrush in their lives, as well as people who have been making art for years.

As a previous poster said, the techniques and practices of art can be taught to anyone. I can show you how to use a brush or throw a bowl on the wheel, and practice truly does make perfect. The more you do it, the better you (generally) get. However, there are aspects of being artistic, such as seeing the way light hits trees and being able to mimic that with oil paints, that can be a bit harder, or in some cases impossible, to teach someone. I think there is something in the way that we see and process light/color/shapes, as artists, that is slightly different.

Now, can that be taught? I don't know if I was born with it, honestly. Too far back to remember, haha. I think that when you start at a young age and make art constantly for 16 years, it becomes second nature. I think it does get easier the more you do it, though; just like anything else.

Bottom line: if it makes you happy and is enjoyable to you, start making art. You may never be Picasso. Most people aren't, haha! But you will improve with practice. And always remember, "good" art is subjective and individual.

 

[NotUrsula]

Getting back to the whole sports thing, how about strategy sports that require strength, but are less punishing on the body? Something like archery for instance? My whole family shoots, and it is great for conditioning your upper body
There is also always swimming. great exercise and easier on the body than nearly anything else, at least if you are simply doing it for fitness and not trying to win gold medals. And of course, the classic low-impact sport: golf.
(Or croquet if you don't feel like you can manage a good swing. I know some people who play croquet as a blood-sport!)

 

[Hrhpd]

I think I'm having a midlife crisis. I've come to the unfortunate realization that I have to give up playing sports. I love playing just about anything (softball, volleyball, racquetball, basketball, etc) but I've discovered that my body doesn't like it anymore. The recovery after a game is very difficult and lasting longer and longer. I had a lot of injuries as a young athlete that never healed properly and they are coming back to bite me. I need a new hobby.

I think I am a very creative person, but I am not at all artistic. I can't draw or paint and I've never done anything like pottery, glass blowing, mosaics, etc. I have avoided anything artistic because I hold the belief that I suck! I'd love to learn, but I kind of feel this is something you either have in you or you don't. Am I wrong?

On top of that, I don't know where to even start. While laying on the sofa recovering from my sports injuries this weekend, I searched for hours for any kind of beginner classes in my area and came up empty. I found a lot of "all levels welcome" but I find that rather intimidating. I need someone to actually teach me.

The best I found was a place that teaches stained glass. That looks really cool and it is for beginners, but that seems like an extremely expensive hobby. The class is a couple hundred bucks and then you need some kit that is $450. That's a lot to invest in something that I don't even know if I'll like.

So as I lay here in pain still, I am having a little pity party for myself. I can't figure out what I want to do next and the one thing that seems fun is something I think I would be terrible at. Whoa is me!

I think any beginner, no matter how talented, is going to suck when starting out. Anything worth it takes practice and time. Everybody has to learn technique. Nobody is going to know right off hand how to do something. The greatest artists all had mentors where they learned the how to do something.

That said, I don't think you can teach talent. Some people just have an artistic eye. For instance, go to one of those paint and sip classes. Everybody learns the exact same thing, but everybody's painting will look different. Some people just have a talent for making those same instructions look fabulous.

You said you were creative, so you have a step up on others.

 

[elphaba91]

I haven't read through the entire thread, but what about card making or scrapbooking? My sister works in a craft store that specialises in that stuff and it's actually a lot of fun, and probably a good hobby if you're creative but not artistic - you just have to be able to cut things out (and can even use a guillotine to do it straight) and stick things on! You can get all different kinds of paper, stamps, embellishments, tapes, etc. Plus (especially for card making), you then have an actual use for your work!