Somethin' to Think About #6

Felt like saying this....

Some family friends from out of town came and visited us for the weekend.  It was a bit late last night, and my godniece was looking at my sketchbook.  She was awed by my sketches, the different things I had in there.  So I asked her if she draws.  She said she did, but then she stopped.  She did have a desire to write stories and draw as well.  I asked her how old she was, and she replied that she was seven.  After talking to her how I started drawing, I showed her sketches and pics I drew when I was her age.  With anticipation, she desired to draw that night.  She even went up to her mom (my godsister) to ask about getting a sketchbook.

Now, I do not know the reason why she stopped.  I do know one thing, that many stop due to others discouraging them.  Mocking their skills or whatnot.  If there is one thing I cannot tolerate is having someone bashing other people's skills and discouraging them.  It pisses me off to no end.  Get this through your skulls:  Everyone has a starting point.  Bleedman had a starting point, LeSean Thomas had a starting point, and many other professionals had a starting point.  

That's definitely one of the down sides of deviantArt.  Rather being an art community, it's more of a place for bashing.  Depending on the artwork.  Could depend on the artist as well.  Nevertheless, I cannot stand for people bashing another's development in art.  Heck, even if the person's style is anime/manga, that's still not a reason to bash it.  I may not like the fact that anime/manga is the style more people would like to see.  However, I still admire the hard work that was put into the compositions.  

Ever since I was young, one of the artist promises I made to myself:  Never discourage another to create with a pencil.  I don't care if you can't draw as well as I can.  Or that you never have drawn before in your life.  Anybody can draw.  Period.  Now there is something called "talent" and "gifted", yes.  Not everyone may have the talent or gifts to fully express the creativity.  But anyone can gain skills well enough to pick up a pencil and draw.  I've drawn for 17 years, haven't stopped, and I never will.  And yes, there are people who have drawn for maybe at least five years and they're better than me.  Regardless, the will and the desire was there to actually do something about getting better.  

I didn't get much time to talk to my godniece like I should have about drawing.  About the loopholes, the pitfalls, and everything else.  She'll experience on her own, I'm sure.  My hope is that she'll continue to practice drawing, and find a passion for it.  That no one will come and crush it.  I hope you find a passion to draw, if you haven't already.  Maybe a passion to write to.  Something that you're not doing right now, but you desire to do.  And that you don't allow others to push you away from it.  I'm done.

Contro out.

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