Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
Pablo Picasso
Sometimes I think my four-year-old son, Dylan teaches me more than I teach him! As I watch him play, learn and interact with the world around him, I see lessons that I can apply to my oil painting endeavours.
1. Banish self-doubt. When Dylan is creating, he has no fear or second guessing–he wields his crayon or brush with bravura!
2. Enjoy the beauty of simple things and view them with fresh eyes. My son is fascinated by every day objects, such as the colors and shapes found in a small pebble, and he has no pre-conceived ideas that a stone is grey or brown. (To paint well, one must view the world with fresh eyes . . . grass isn’t necessarily green and apples aren’t always red!)
3. Seize the moment. Young boys are a whirlwind of activity and full of energy. I will seize the moment and find time to practice, study, paint and draw . . . every day.
4. Be curious and play. Learn how to maneuver paint with a brush, palette knife, and even fingers. (Learn and be curious about how to make different marks—thick/thin, soft/hard, and light/dark brush strokes . . . play with paint.)
5. Have resilience and determination. If Dylan wants something, he doesn’t quit. His persistence is really something to be admired, as well as endured! Do I exhibit that kind of determination? Through miles of canvas—wisdom and honing of my craft will come.
Dylan, 8 x 10 oil by Jill Brabant Mixed media, 11 x 14, by Dylan Brabant
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