“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” -Pablo Picasso
By: Nina Ruud
When we were young, the entire world was a canvas: a beach could easily turn into a solar system with just a few circles drawn in the sand, painted bugs and butterflies confetti-ed the refrigerator door, and sidewalk chalk littered the driveway. We made castles out of building blocks, and pretended to be super heroes and villainous monsters with cardboard swords. Not only was the world a canvas, it was also a stage.
“Every child is an artist” said Pablo Picasso. The insatiable astonishment we are born with is boundless. Not only are children unafraid of limits, they often don’t even recognize their existence. Infinite possibilities occur during each walk to the park. In a loving and safe environment, the mind of a child blooms like springtime all year round.
“The problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” As we grow older we must become more accountable. We silently trade that deeply embedded creative magic for modern-day responsibility and a schedule. We have bills to pay, and we have to work hard and often to pay them. When we were children we couldn’t wait to grow up so that we could do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. As my mom once asked, “How’s that working out for you?”
There has to be a way to rediscover the creative ideas we’ve left behind while maintaining our current to-do list. If you don’t think you are artistically talented, news flash: YOU ARE! You may not have found the right medium yet. Art is not confined to 2-dimensional drawings; dance, theater, music, photography, and Kung Fu are all examples of an artistic process.
Spend an afternoon with a pencil and paper and embark on the journey of a lifetime. Art has been used for centuries as an insight into our true nature. Art therapy is a very common technique for all ages and countless conditions. It’s a meditation that can be shared with friends and family, or kept to yourself.
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” -Kurt Vonnegut