Hi John,
You might know my family lives next to a college dorm where we have the honor of helping college frosh adjust to life on campus.
It can be tiring (late night events that just get started at 10 pm) and joyful (facilitating lifelong friendships).
Last night was both tiring and joyful.
Every Wednesday we have house meetings that gets started at 10 pm, and I provide the food.
It's usually something easy like donuts or cheese/crackers, but last night I set up a pancake bar with a griddle, fruit, and maple syrup.
I made the batter ahead of time, then set myself up like I was running the pancake station at the Four Seasons.
As I was setting up, one of the students lingered, said he'd never made pancakes before, and was curious about what I was up to.
I shared that he could learn by watching (I then recognized the theatricality of the event) or he could join me.
He talked about a fear of messing them up. I shared back that there are a few tried and true tactics, but there's not a wrong or right way about it.
Next thing I know, we're flipping pancakes side-by-side.
He struggled for a bit, then adopted a two spatula flipping technique. Pretty quickly he got the hang of it and was happily making pancakes for friends. He felt accomplished and now embodied a new skill and experience.
Isn't art-making like this?
It's one thing to watch and see how other people create. We can learn a lot this way.
And it's quite another thing to roll up our sleeves, be willing to fail or make mistakes, experiment, develop new ways of problem solving, and feel a sense of accomplishment from enjoying the process of creation.
If you have an opportunity to make art this week, seize it!
Who cares if you screw it up. Art is subjective anyhow and who's to say what's good or bad? Just jump in and start making.
For more on the importance of failure >> Failure is Not Trying
Stacks of Joy,
p.s. Interested in making art for YOU? Click here and I'll add you that list!
p.p.s. Interested in making art with KIDS? Click here and I'll add you that list.
