Can ANYONE learn to paint?
Can I tell you something that I've heard many times over the years? When I've shown people my drawings or paintings I've heard the response:
"Wow! That's so great. I wish I could paint. I can't even draw a stick figure!"
And you know what? Maybe they can't. Not everyone is born with great creative skills (thank goodness. I'd be out of the job...) Some people will just naturally be great at drawing and painting. If we were all forced to become artists tomorrow, those people would have a head start for sure.
What's weird though, is that lots of people assume that they can't learn to draw or paint. But why can't you??
Take for example, a musician. Lots of people say to great musicians: "Man, I wish I could play the guitar like that..." The admirer knows that they could learn to play though. They could take lessons, learn the notes, the chords, the technique, practice their musicality and expression. Maybe they would never play as well as a true prodigy, but they could certainly learn to play well if they put some time and effort into it.
Why is painting viewed differently? It's almost as if people think that painting or drawing is a skill that only some people can just instinctively have. Firstly, that's incorrect. Secondly, that is technically insulting to anyone who has built their skills to a professional standard. Yes, I have always been naturally good at drawing. I was one of the ones with the head start. But could I always paint or draw like a can now? Noooooooooo. I've got the pictures to prove it:
All of these pieces were created during, or just after completing my Bachelor of Natural History Illustration. They're not the worst artwork by any means but...they're not great. Ironically, I feel like my work really levelled up after my studies at University because I was determined to continue putting the time in to build my skills to a genuinely impressive level. Even with my head start as a naturally good 'drawer', my work would have remained average even with a degree under my belt if I'd stopped experimenting, practising and pushing my standards higher.
I had to study colour theory, perspective, form, anatomy, light and shading, composition. etc. I needed to experiment with different styles and mediums. I needed to PRACTISE. A LOT.
And you can too! You can learn any or all of the above and more to improve your ability to draw and paint. Think of it as learning the different notes and chords to be played on an instrument. The more you practise and learn, the better your music, or art, will be.
Lauren x
PS. If you're a local to the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area, join my email list so you can be notified every time I have a workshop coming up! And view my 'Teaching' page to book into my upcoming scheduled classes. Learning to paint is a whole lot more fun with a group of people doing it with you! And with a super fun, helpful and experienced botanical watercolour expert guiding you along the way too...
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