Ten Ways Art Redeems and Uplifts You
By John Vassallo
Each of us has a key that unlocks
your inner self, art is that key.* Art,
more specifically, the ability to draw well enough to convincingly portray a
unique thought, is something each of us can master. In so doing, it unleashes
in a person a sense of self-awareness and freedom. So often I hear the laments
of those who say they have no artistic ability.
My experience as a teacher has convinced me otherwise.
Considering the influence of early
exposures to art classes in elementary
school and the significance of proper drawing education makes me sound the alarm!
I urge everyone with the desire to raise yourself up to a sense of
expressive equality with others to return to that time of arrested development
many years ago when someone or some occurrence convinced you that you could not
draw!! Learn to see edges, shapes,
proportions, contrast, and how these all go together. Practice! Be persistent. More on this process
in a later writing.
Here are the reasons to start you
thinking about turning (or returning) to
art for an uplift in your psyche. Next time I will discuss the five principle
components of learning to draw as I taught in community college successfully to
many older students who thought they could not master the skill. For now,
preview the benefits that are derived from learning to draw and using it in
your life:
Reasons to start drawing and creating art:
(1)
Release the inner need to express what is meaningful to you and let
others know what is going on inside your mind
(2)
Every person needs to be acknowledged and art is a way to have people
notice you in some visual or tactile manner
(3)
Provide a release or pressure valve to safely and effectively reduce the
tension and emotional build-up that comes with withholding feelings or
undergoing pain
(4)
Record experiences and sensations for your family and friends who may
appreciate this outward documentation that will extend your longevity in
personal terms
(5)
Exploration in art leads to personal edification and discovery by
concretely displaying ideas that otherwise remain only mental images
(6)
Art can generate an identity or brand by which you are recognized and that
can energize your future endeavors
(7)
The contemplative nature of creating art can provide health benefits not
unlike yoga or meditation in reducing blood pressure and providing some
distraction from life's issues
(8)
Yes, some people make a profit or income from art, but it should be
something of value to you before it becomes something worthwhile and of
interest to others (in my mind, this should never be a primary reason to create
art)
(9)
Potentially, creating art can build personal associations, involvement
in social situations, interpersonal skills, and in some cases may generate
friendships
(10)
To those who default to the anecdotal, "I can't draw a straight line"
or "All I can draw are stick figures", I say to you that by your very
human nature you were meant to create and be productive. You should
create art in the same way you engage in other elementary routine acts of daily
living. Let yourself live and be a part of the constant creation that is going
on around you.
*Note: "Art" in
terms of the qualitative performance of self-expression can easily include
other forms such as painting, sculpture, poetry, music, etc. I repeat, "We
were meant to create and be productive."