- Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (NIV)
Say NO to fears, no to doubt...No No NO to not being good enough. I don't know about you, but I allow so many voices in my head. Some come with great stories some not so much, They are full of doubt and shame.
Words have the power to change your mood. As a start a new school year, I take the time to refelct on the past one. One story stood out.
Middle of the year I was introducing a new a project to my art class I noticed a girl standing outside my door. She would leave then come back.
Once I finished I went over to see if she needed help. She was a new student and said they made a mistake putting her in art. She said she was terrible at drawing. I asked if she had already had a fine art class, because in Texas you needed a credit in fine art in order to gradate. She said no and I explained at our small school Visual Art was the only fine art we offered so she needed my class to graduate.
I think she stopped breathing and said she couldn't do it. There was such a fear in her eyes, my heart melted for her.
I went on to reassure her that I grade heavy on effort not product. Went on to explain that mistakes are the best way to learn and there are many forms of art and some of the most famous artist could not draw either. Van Gogh is my favorite example. I promised her if she gave it her best effort it would be good enough. She left but found her way back to next day.
I started her on a radial design with her name. I showed her how to tracing her own name that I helped her design. I showed her some simple techniques with watercolor pencils and it was amazing to see her shine. She started coming to the studio before school and after so she could work on her project. This is why I teach. To have a student full of fear and failure end up experiencing joy at something they created all own their own. Nothing is better.
- Radial design with Name in Reflection - Hope
- Radial design with Name in Reflection - Tiago
- Radial design with Name in Reflection - Rudy N Sonia
In A Texas Christmas Wish that will be out in print September 15 and ebook on October 1 my heroine has had a life of being used and abandoned. She is determined to make a difference, with the love of God on her side she takes on life and finds the joy in the little things and she builds a better future for herself and her son. The hero needs a little help finding his joy. With her help he does, just in time for Christmas.
Have you tried something new that scared you? Have you ever found joy in the middle of a storm?
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What a beautiful story to share, Jolene. Thank you. And the artwork - just splendid. I'm one of those people who has no artistic talent, but I love your encouraging spirit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pep talk!
Oh see you can't say you have no artistic talent until you have had every media in your hands. True art is about self expression - if you are expressing yourself how can it be wrong? lol Thanks for stopping by.
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