Daring Adventures
by Kathy Seaton
By Janet DiVincenzo
Helen Keller was quoted as saying “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” I took a daring adventure myself not long ago. I signed up for an online art workshop. Now, let me just say, I was just about the last person who would ever take an art class in high school or college. I never wanted to draw. Can’t draw. Don’t like to draw. Can’t even draw a credible stick figure, really. But I do like to make things — not just electronic things! I’ve done the odd assortment of craft projects over the years — collages, decoupage, things with cork, etc. And I’ve been a pretty competent card maker for about 15 years. My dream is to do mixed media collages using the stashes of sentimental paraphernalia I’ve picked up during my travels over the years and other assorted personal clutter, like concert tickets, museum receipts from foreign travels, and the like.
Like any dutiful student preparing for class by buying a textbook, I set out to the art supply store to purchase the recommended materials for the class. Now I know my way around Michael’s pretty well. But this was an art supply store — where artists shop (not me!). Canvases? I don’t know from canvases! She said we should buy 10 x 10 sizes. Uh-oh, I only saw 8 x 10. Hope that will work! These canvases seem so permanent, so professional! What if I screw up? Plus, they’re kind of expensive for a newbie. Oh well, in the basket they go. Oh, but wait. Maybe I should also buy a heavy duty sketch pad so I can first practice on paper — you know, get the hang of the paint, the brushes, etc. so I don’t go messing up one of the canvases. In the basket it goes. Oh wait. Here are some tinier canvases, like 5 x 5. So cute! How badly could I mess up those little guys? Buy 1 get 2 free? Whoosh, in the basket they go. Paintbrushes? Man they are expensive! And there are literally hundreds of them. How many do I need? I want to make sure I’m buying exactly the right ones! But which ones!? Now, on to acrylic paints — also kind of pricey. She said we should just get a few to start. But what colors? How much do I need? What if I buy the wrong kind? Am I spending too much money? Argh! Anyone can see I’m a poser. This isn’t my tribe! Who do I think I am?
On the drive home it hit me. I was sounding like a lot of my newbie students — “Oh, I can’t really be a project manager yet.” or “I still need practice with the charter.” or “I’m just not comfortable with cost estimates yet.” Well, duh! Of course! Nobody hits it out of the park the first time. You just have to silence that inner (perfectionistic) critic that tries to tell you you’re not good enough. You just have to DO IT. Honestly no puppies will be harmed when I mix red with blue and discover, hey, that’s not the color I wanted. And no kittens will be harmed when you produce a cost estimate that is less than accurate. You just have to decide you’re going to do it and not look back. Be daring. Be adventurous.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
– Thomas A. Edison