THROWING AWAY YOUR MISTAKES

[sweetiepye]

When I taught Art one of the behaviors I hated to see was when a student would squash his paper into a ball and throw it into the waste basket. That told me the student was so frustrated with his work he didn't know what to do so he was going to get rid of the problem. I would have the child retrieve his work and we would smooth it out and try to see where he had gone . He would immediately grab for an eraser to get rid of his mistake. I would tell him to leave the mistake alone and let it show so he wouldn't go that way again. Once he was finished he was allowed to clean up his work a much happier artist. I think we are often like that student, we try to hide our mistakes. If we acknowledge them let them show we are less likely to make them again. Leaving us free to make better choices. That is how we improve, by changing small things and not ignoring our mistakes. Try it , we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.Pam

[PMRPete]

I hated Art at school during the 2nd World War. I never drew or painted anything which the Art Mistress thought was any good. We had to draw and paint on woodworking benches! I have never to this day tried again thanks to my 1944-48 experience!

Pete

[sweetiepye in reply to PMRPete]

You know Pete, Art is still taught that way in many places. It's such a shame because it takes away something that can give so much pleasure and is a wonderful release for stress. I tried to give my students enough skills so they could have the success they wanted. I never used the terms bad or good, but you're really improving or maybe you could try that again. It's never too late....Pam

[Hidden in reply to sweetiepye]

Pam

I was lousy at art although when I took my Maths Examinations at School and College I had to be able to draw geometric shapes and work out the Maths associated with them. I was one of the most useless Students with slide rules and geometric shapes. With a compass I always felt I wished to throw them at a wall.

I eventually got better at work and when I was taking Marine Examinations.

Art however is a waste of time.

BOB

[sweetiepye in reply to Hidden]

Art is a very subjective thing , a visual record of your thought process.Pam

[Hidden in reply to sweetiepye]

Pam

All I got in my Art Classes was a slap with a ruler Pam. Eventually they gave me up as a bad job. Mind I did get a certificate when I left, a Grade 5, I think they must have taken sympathy with me

BOB

[sweetiepye in reply to Hidden]

Education has improved, but has a long way to go. I've heard many stories like yours and of course some people are not interested in Art . I was really just saying we can all learn from our mistakes, but to be sure not to repeat them Pam

[nedd]

Depends on the senario.

That way can lie the burden of guilt. Not to mention the negative energy force of constant frustration. And eventual sense of hopelessness when attempts at perfection fall short.

Some mistakes can't be rectified.

Better to bin some and move on.

Navigating a way though life is an art form.

What may be viewed as a mistake by others maybe my oddball self expression.

Art therapy is one tool in the box. For me throwing colour around can be better than reviewing what lies in dark corners. (By the by. Orange works as an antidepressant) My form of CBT.

Doesn't mean I don't try to improve some bits of this life's work in progress though.

"It's the process not the product".

Happy processing.

Ps possibly it's the comparison with art. That's got me a processing this reply!

[En1234]

Oh Pam, what a wise woman you are!! I totally get the comparison and agree wholeheartedly with what you say!!

I wish you had been my art teacher though. My art teacher was a man who laughed at everything I "tried" to draw, sketch or paint. He actually made fun of my work in front of the class and so much so pulled me aside at the end of a class one day and asked me if I would not rather spend the time I would have been spending in the art class, at my music class instead, as I was a far better singer than I would have ever been as an artist (although I was quick to point out that singing was an art form in itself!!...) I can laugh at it now..

You showed a lot of kindness to that student...Seems like my old art teacher could have learned a few things from you!!

Theresa XXXXX

[sweetiepye in reply to En1234]

Thank you for your nice reply. The one thing I understood was the courage it takes to put yourself and your work out there to be criticized. I had some of those judgmental art teachers also.