This semester I have decided to take a painting class. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but we have already turned in two paintings. I’m certainly no Picasso however by the end of this class maybe I’ll be an apprentice level.
Both projects are gray scale meaning we only used black and white paints and had to mix them to create different shades of gray.
Now being the novice artist I am, I was struggling to draw each painting before I began. Then mixing the paints to make the different shades gray. And painting with a pallet knife for the first painting was a struggle. I now know why we are taught to color inside the lines in kindergarten; So that painting with a pallet knife will be easier or so that we learn to follow directions. I digress. Anyway
…as I was going about my project I realized there are 3 life lessons we can gather from a simple painting:
- Don’t be afraid of the outcome, just go for it! If life is the canvas and we just sit around and don’t do anything we will be left with a blank canvas stained with regret of not trying. Fear should be a motivator not a reason to shut down. If its not scary it probably ain’t worth it. One must climb the mountain of success, not wish it away but accomplish it.
- Sometimes we need help along the way and thats ok. Novice or expert we all need a little guidance along the journey of life. As humans we were created to rely on each other. Doing life together is important. The mountain can get scary with roadblocks and other such things we do not expect. Having people in our lives that can build us up, teach us and do life with us is important.
- Someone is always going to critique your work. Take what others say with a grain of salt. You may learn a new skill or find out something you has previously missed before. However not every critique is positive and we need to learn how to move forward and not let others keep us down. There is only one critic that we should please: Jesus.
What can we conclude from this painting class?
That it is our job to try new things, learn and explore. If we don’t pick up the paint brush we will never know what the out come will be. Just go for it! Years from now it will be a memory shared around the dinner table.
