"Embracing Imperfection: A Journey of Self-Discovery in Art and Teaching"

So I am going to take you back in time for a minute.  I want you to imagine a little girl in an art class. The teacher's example is on the board. She has been given clear instructions to recreate the model.  This little girls fine motor skills aren't great and no matter how hard she tries she can't make her project look like the teachers. She is convinced she is terrible at art and that there is no point in trying. Because of this experience repeated over years of art classes, she puts down her scissors and pencils and believes she is not creative and not able to make art.

Years later, she becomes a teacher.  Suddenly she realizes she is the one that has to teach art - but she is really really terrible at it. She knows she is - because she can't draw a straight line and still can not cut straight! How was she going to teach others?  Okay, you guessed it - the little girl is me. I was the little girl.

That was my experience with Art.  I grew up believing that I was not capable of creating beautiful things, not capable of making art.  It wasn't until I was forced to teach art that I began to explore my inner artist.  I was really lucky to have some amazing artists as mentors who helped me along the way. 

Today I consider myself a beginning artist. I love playing with color, mixing textures and mediums.  Creating art has become a way for me to relax, unwind and reflect.  My art is for me - if you enjoy it, that is great but it isn't my reason for creating. 

When I teach art, I try to remember that little girl. I tell all my students from the very beginning that they ARE artists.  I try to give my students lots of different ways to express themselves. I try and give them choices and creative freedom when I can.  We talk a lot about practicing our art.  When we look at 'adult' art we talk about the amount of time it must have taken these people to get that good. Students in my room will often be practicing the same technique but the end product will not look like mine - or each others. When we look at the works they created, I try to encourage them to find their strengths in their own work instead of comparing themselves to others. 

For the most part, I let go of the Pinterest perfect bulletin boards. I learned that I  don't have to pin up 20 identical owls to prove I are a good Art teacher.  When we do one of those kinds of projects, I let students know we are making a craft, not an art project.

What about you?  Are you hard on yourself as an artist? Are you still trying to copy the teachers work?  As a teacher are you asking your students to copy your work? Are you giving your students a chance to be truly creative? 

As I reflect on my journey as an artist, I am struck by how important process is over product. I am also reminded that making ugly art is an important part of learning. Giving students and ourselves the permission to discover and learn is the key. 

So here's my parting thought: Let's challenge ourselves to let go of the pressure to be perfect and embrace the beauty of imperfection. Let's encourage our students to find their own voices and express themselves authentically through art.

So whether you're an artist still finding your way or a teacher guiding others on their creative journeys, embrace the process, celebrate the journey, and never underestimate the transformative power of believing in yourself and others.

I believe in you, you artist you!