SHARING ALL MY SECRETS!

15/6/2019

I had an exciting day last Saturday, teaching a room full of 24 grown ups how to play with paint. And today I’ve been reading their feedback forms!

“My favourite part was the squeegees and splatting - so much fun!” …“I loved drawing with graphite”… "I enjoyed the cardboard scraper”

“I could express freely, I’m proud that I’ve created something beautiful."

“It’s brought the fun and play back, and taken away the heaviness and seriousness I was feeling about my art.”

“I’ve learnt how to keep pressing through, layer by layer until beauty is formed."

Art Processes

But, you know the comment that grabbed my attention the most, was from someone on the actual day, that took me by surprise. I can’t remember her exact words but she was basically expressing her appreciation that I would be willing to share my ‘secrets’ with everyone. She thanked me for my generosity in not keeping my art processes to myself! Isn’t that lovely?!

Should I be worried that people might try to copy?

Should I be worried that people might try to copy my style, or might use my ideas to make better pictures than mine?

What I do is incredibly simple - I’ve taught most of it to children as young as 4, I’ve shared it with rooms of 150 people all in one go and it’s still been effective. My processes have come about through experimentation and play, through trial and error, but most of all through playing with paint and having fun.

I didn’t invent stencilling, or splatting paint, or building up layers, or using circles in ones work. Maybe if this was it - if this was going to be my specific style for ever, then I’d feel a bit more protective and guarding of sharing it with people (I don’t know)...

I'm just getting started!

BUT I’m just getting started! I have plans to go much deeper and further and crazier with my paint playing. In fact, I would be most disappointed if my work did stay the same from now on - I’m hungry to keep developing, to keep growing and learning.

If I can impart a sense of fun and playfulness in people’s creativity, if I can help to free people up to focus on enjoying the process rather than stressing over the results, then I feel the risk of sharing 'all my secrets' is one worth taking.