This semester I am taking painting, by accident. I have not ever had a deep passion to create art like some people do. However, given the choice between my previous class and painting; my lack of creative talents seemed like a minor detail. I have endured many hours of artists researches, art critiques, and outside drawing activities, to encounter disappointment. My lines were never straight enough, my circles were never round enough; nothing was ever good enough. The only thing that I enjoyed doing was playing with some painting gloss that looked like marshmallow fluff.
This process of disappointment, boredom, and aggravation went on for weeks and weeks and weeks; a never ending cycle. One day in class I painted a portrait and it ended up looking much like the main character from Waltz of the Fat Man. My teacher exclaimed "Wow! I can really see your personality through this painting!"That made me feel fantastic. On another fateful portrait painting day I decided to spin my painting gloss with a paint brush. That was the day that my teacher told me I could paint 3D art with the gloss. When I started to mold the goo with my fingers I realized what art was about: art is whatever makes you happy. I know that sounds cliche but I am serious! To me there is the art of sports, the art of music, the art of anything. So this semester in art class I have learned that I am not good at painting but I did learn this lesson so maybe art class wasn't completely bad.
Elizabeth, I know what you mean. My painting class in college was one of my most frustrating classes, and I ended up with one of the lowest grades I ever received in college. And yet...I got a lot out of it - a chance to play with weird colors, some time away from the differently demanding work of my other classes, and an appreciation of why it's valuable to do things you just aren't that great at. I am glad you got something out of your class, too.
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