Nature versus Nurture

I have just started trying to set up my own website....... am only on the first page so far and the first thing which strikes me is there are so many decisions to be made and decisions and I don't go together, can always see too many options then am doomed!!! So I can see this will be a long process if I have to deliberate over every aspect!!!!! Will need to pursue this as I can't afford to actually have one built so may take a while but will keep at it.

As I was writing the "About" bit it seemed relevant to mention desire which I know is absolutely key to improving as an artist. Desire will drive everything you need to do. I believe we are all born with our designated, genetic amount of talent, intelligence, personality etc etc, but the key is how do we use that? Very much a nature versus nurture discussion.

This is how I think about it.

Imagine our talent is like an elastic band and we are all born with our own unique band... that band might be thick, thin, long or short but that is where we start. The crucial bit is what influences  our band and how much we are then able to stretch it. Someone who has no access to a musical instrument or has never learned to read music may never discover they have perfect pitch, their musical band remains unstretched , it may be a lovely thick juicy band, whose stretchabilty knows no bounds but its potential will never be recognised. Someone who has a much smaller band but has been introduced to the wonders of music may stretch their band to a much greater size possibly because of their own desire and the opportunities afforded them.

And so it is with art..... some will be blessed with awesome talent which  neither they, nor the rest of the world will ever come to recognise.  Either their talent has never been awakened or maybe they don't have the desire to pursue it and that is where the rest of us come in......just how big our artistic band is, becomes somewhat irrelevant when pitched against desire. Desire will stretch your elastic band as far as you will ever want, the human potential knows no bounds when it is married to desire. Desire will teach you everything...... it will push you to practice, to seek knowledge, improve technique, experiment. Desire is all it takes, you  DO NOT need any special talent you just need to want to do it..... anyone can paint and how good we become depends on how far we stretch our elastic band, it will never snap it will stretch to wherever you need it to stretch to. Please think about this whenever you are feeling despondent... you can do it, practice will help you both improve and cultivate the desire, the more you do the more you will want to do.......I am living proof that desire rather than innate talent is what is needed....... here endeth the first lesson!!!

Atmospheric Watercolours by Jean Haines (and sleepless nights!!!)

Well haven't finished it yet but am savouring every page!!!! It's stopped me eating and sleeping a good thing maybe???

Haven't done a book review before (and after reading this you may think "hope she never does one again!!!!") and maybe I should wait until it's finished but am just a lot excited about this one!!!!! It is full of Jean's secrets written in her own easy, inimitable, encouraging way, as if she is talking intimately to you, the reader. She shares moments and memories of her past..... a lovely insight into the Jean we don't get to hear about.....

I have done the first few exercises in the book following just what she did and guess what?????? They turned out and I think the penny might finally be dropping. If any of you have been lucky enough to either see Jean demonstrate or go to a workshop, she makes things look so easy.... well we all know it isn't... right????

Easy comes from years of practice, experience and desire, but.... and this is what I really want to share, this book opens the door and certainly for me has given me those all so sought after glimpses of what I'm looking for...... that's why I was so excited about it and apart from everything else, retiring, exhibition on Saturday, holiday next Wednesday etc etc....... well you can now understand why I couldn't sleep. I said to my husband at 3:30 I think I might get up... he said "What are you going to do.... paint?" Of course I said no....... hmmmm thought she indignantly does he really think I was going to get up and paint at 3;30 in the morning, how ridiculous!!!!!! Am beginning to think he knows me too well  (note to self... need to become more mysterious!!!)

So hope to read and reread more today and the next weeks and months of course, I think Jean was wise to have this published in hardback as I think it will become one of those "bible" sort of books which in paperback may become too worn!!!  Am sorry for those of you who have to wait for a copy, it will be worth the wait I promise!!! Will keep you updated and maybe write another review when I have had more chance to work through and digest... it is a treat for sure.  I normally like to flick through books before I buy but I had faith that this one would be what I was looking for and it is ...... in bucket loads!!!!!! It is a book full of hope, colour and life and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!!