Now that we’ve covered what an art mentorship can be, as well as the spiritual component and the intentional living component, let’s move to a deeper look at the skill development component.
No one can really be the artist they are called to be without being intentional to value and invest in their skills.
This is the one of the most foundational moves we can make as a student of the arts: being intentional to invest in our skill growth.
It can be easy to assume that growing one’s artistic skills is entirely organic or somehow magically endowed on chosen people who suddenly burst into brilliance.
However, it’s better to think of artistic skill much like how one would learn an instrument. We don’t find ourselves expecting a baby to burst forth into this world with full capabilities in violin playing.
There’s a reason so many music students take lessons and are told to practice. It’s a skill that must be learned.
Art is the same way. While it’s true we can be artistically gifted, there is almost always still a need to train and grow that gift so that it can become all that it was intended to be.
Training equips and can helps us to speak in the way God intends for us to speak with our art.
For art itself is as a language. A voice that calls us Home, a pathway that leads us towards (or away) from the Truth and a vessel that can take us into or away from, God’s heart.
If one does not invest in skill growth, there is potential to hinder the work of God. Viewers may get lost trying to figure out what is what in the image, or their eyes will fight with the inaccurate horizon line or awkward coloring. These become distractions, even hinderances that can take away from the clarity with which an artist was made to speak.
In an art mentorship, intentionally investing in your skill growth may look like:
– Going through foundational training in the skills of drawing, values, line quality, perspective, depth and color.
– Practicing for hours every week on assignments that can help you to strengthen your artistic eye.
– Developing a good art practice schedule to help keep you on track with your goals.
Wish you could have someone to help keep you accountable as you pursue a strong creative life? An art mentorship could be just what you’re looking for. Send me a note at melissajacie@gmail.com I’d love to chat!
