a lesson ~

[lookingland]

from gaping void's "how to be creative"

19. Sing in your own voice.

Piccasso was a terrible colorist. Turner couldn't paint human beings worth a damn. Saul Steinberg's formal drafting skills were appalling. TS Eliot had a full-time day job. Henry Miller was a wildly uneven writer. Bob Dylan can't sing or play guitar.

But that didn't stop them, right?

So I guess the next question is, "Why not?"

I have no idea. Why should it?

last night i was doing a long self-assessment about the morass that is my inability to follow through with stuff for idiotic reasons (like badly drawn cows or my own failure to turn a phrase like styron or something equally derf). and today i thought it would be nice to revisit gapingvoid and remind myself of a handful of basic premises. this one in particular struck me because it addresses exactly what holds me back 99.9% of the time: total lack of confidence and a self-critic who hates everything i have ever touched.

and the glaring truth is: so what? so what if i can't draw, can't paint, can't write? has it ever stopped me from trying? no. then why do i let it stop me from finishing?

a-ha!

that'll larn me.

Comments

[magdalene74.livejournal.com]

I dont know what you are talking about! Everything ive ever seen you put out has been lovely!
With Love,
Marie

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

awww, thank you ~ that's very sweet of you to say.

: D

[mzlibby.livejournal.com]

Hey, Boots, I didn't realize you were on LJ until just the other day. That was a nice surprise. Also, I've been keeping an eye on Small Pax and love the art and fellowship is see. I do a little drawing, but could stand to do more. Will they let me join if I'm slow getting started.

I agree with "Marie"...your drawing is quite good and you are too hard on yourself.

Glad to see you here, thought I rarely post anymore.

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

it's Libby ~ ! fancy seeing you here.

i've been with SmallPax a while, but not very active (i don't like the format of their blog) ~ if you want to join, just send ted an email ~ he usually asks that you post an introduction and samples of your work to get started.

: D

[annabellissima.livejournal.com]

oh how I love you.

I couldn't have read this at a better time.

But more than that... it truly warms my heart to see you come to this realization. I'm *so* happy for you.

[psalm23.livejournal.com]

so what? so what if i can't draw, can't paint, can't write?

In the insanity of the moment, I forgot to say this to you.

*pokes you* Dude. You can draw. You can write. And you can probably paint, though I haven't seen any of your paintings, but why doubt, your drawings rock. So there. *wiggle wiggle, runs away* :P

And consarnit, I'll have to look through your archives to find the head tutorial--wait, I just found it! *saved it in her "memories" section* Phew. *has to start practicing profiles again*

~ Laura.

[la-vita-nuova.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting that article - it was interesting and inspiring. I dig your work - and remember, most of the time you're your own worst critic. hey, you have a published graphic novel, right? That bodes well. Just keep working and get your work out there when the opportunities arise.