The Daily Rambling Artist: Breaking the Script - Fostering Positivity in Creative Expression

Earlier today, my friend Jeremy paid me a visit, bearing a gift of art supplies. As always, our conversation flowed effortlessly, and his kind gesture transported me back to our initial hangout. During that chat, we delved into the topic of adults expressing their inability to draw, a phenomenon with numerous underlying causes. This topic is one of the multi-faceted reasons I make a conscious effort to openly share my creative process.

I can only attest to this cultural attitude towards creative potential in terms of my experience of it in the United States. The common refrain, "I can't even draw a straight line," strikes me as a line from a tired script, a formulaic quip perhaps intended to come across as endearing. I’m not with it.

The crux of the matter is this: when someone utters these words, it's likely they haven't truly ventured into the realm of creativity with any true effort. Think about a child making art, devoid of negative adult influence. Their uninhibited freedom, unburdened by self-doubt, stands in stark contrast to the jaded adult who proudly proclaims, "I possess no artistic bone in my body." It's almost as if the adult expects applause for this self-deprecating declaration.

In reality, such an individual's proclamation holds no weight because they haven't engaged in the act itself. And that's perfectly acceptable. The paradox, however, lies in the fact that children listen to adults. When an adult who has never attempted creativity to any significant potential insists they lack creative ability, it perpetuates a fallacy. Their real statement should be, “I’ve never really tried.”

My conviction rests on the belief that creativity isn't an innate trait; it's nurtured over time. Some individuals may have received more encouragement or exposure to it than others, but the process of transforming creativity into tangible art requires dedicated practice. Copious amounts of practice, to be exact. 

Thus, when confronted with these aforementioned phrases or their variations, a deep-seated conviction compels me to redirect individuals from such expressions. Why? Because within earshot may reside young, impressionable minds, eager to internalize words and fully deserving of the opportunity to embrace positivity, instead of hearing about how someone, "can’t even draw a straight line.”

-Sergio Santos