All three of my girls were blessed with artistic talents. Between my mother and their great grandparents, they were born with a much higher ability than I ever have been able to tap into. It’s just the way that I have always described myself – void of the ability to take a pen to paper and do much less than draw stick figures doing who knows what. Even my 2 year old grandson looks slightly disappointed every time he asks me to draw a ball. The circle is easy, but when he wants me to make it a basketball, baseball or golf ball I lose him. I love crocheting and cross stitching, but never have attempted much more than my many infamous self portraits between the ages of 5-7 with crazy braids coming out all sides of my head and bloody noses. My mother tossed them in the memory box with a note on the back of one, by her, explaining that she really didn’t think I had ever had this malady.
My oldest, Aubrae, transformed an extra bedroom in her and her husband’s first home in to the most beautiful nursery for my oldest granddaughter, Olivia. Realistic zoo animals in a beautiful, natural jungle like setting. You would have thought that they hired an artist to complete the mural. My middle child, Jordan always had the patience to complete intricate drawings and clay figures that have earned her many ribbons at our County Fair. I hesitated when trying to describe the artistic abilities of my youngest, Schuyler, so in the name of fairness, I called her cell and asked what she would say. She didn’t even hesitate. In her most serious voice she stated that she made a baby and he’s “perfect in every way” – and then finished with, “that’s all I got” ! I like to think that the genetic hand down from me to them is a rye, and most times twisted sense of humor.
But I digress. My plan has been to put myself out there and try things that scare as well as interest me. This explains running 5 and 10 K’s, half marathons, one marathon and repelling off the Ambassador Hotel in Wichita. Somewhat easier on this old body of
mine, my friend Lisa offers group art classes in her studio. You know the kind. An instructor standing at the front, sharing how the whole class can follow her lead and create our own version of the painting of the week. You are even allowed to BYOB, which definitely moves my finished products up the ladder by leaps and bounds. Lisa is so supportive and the crowd is always such a neat variety of faces that we all usually recognize from our little town.
This morning I woke up to a “dare” for the next class from my friend Kim. An upcoming class this Wednesday So, as I reflected on Lisa and her classes, I realize that we all stick ourselves in that “box of inability”. It’s easier than putting ourselves out there, chancing the untraveled path. We all need to quit being our own hardest critic and try anything new that interests us. I hope to see you in Cheney KS, at Voss Creative- an incredible shop that offers awesome art lessons.
Come on….you can do it!
Lisa Meitner
