| "body"> | | | | is becoming. The more you work it, the more it |
| The most phenomenal aspect of art is how it | | | | becomes. |
| builds character. In more ways than one, it can | | | | Your artwork is taking form and you are no |
| actually help you know more about yourself and it | | | | longer hesitant about approaching your canvas. In |
| can help you feel better about yourself as well. It | | | | fact, if this is a project that is taking several |
| is not widely discussed or even widely known, but | | | | days, it is all you think about. You work. You run |
| art actually builds great self-esteem. | | | | errands. You make dinner and you do what you |
| When you are looking at a canvas, it is blank. It | | | | have to do every day to get everything out of |
| has nothing on it. What you are about to | | | | your way just so you have time for your |
| accomplish is the transformation from nothing to | | | | artwork. It is in the back of your brain all day and |
| something special. That's creation at its best. | | | | you can't wait to get in front of your canvas and |
| But, many individuals don't know they have that in | | | | make things happen. |
| them. They have to look deep within themselves | | | | Your self-esteem is no longer questioning your |
| to find the courage it takes to start an art | | | | ability to achieve. It is now wondering what you |
| project. No, it shouldn't be scary and it shouldn't | | | | are going to do next. This is healing for your |
| take any courage. It should be something | | | | self-esteem. This is what you've needed to know |
| inspirational that drives a person to creativity. But, | | | | about yourself all along. |
| what happens is sort of like stage fright. Holding | | | | You finish your project. You step back and look |
| yourself back has a huge impact on your | | | | at it. You have never felt this good in all your life. |
| self-esteem. The more you hold yourself back, | | | | The only problem you have at this point is the |
| the less you feel you can accomplish. It really | | | | feeling that it is over. That's a strong emotion, |
| damages your beliefs in yourself. | | | | slightly depressing. But, it is easy to pass because |
| That's why art builds self-esteem. Your mind | | | | you can begin a new project. Then you feel |
| might start out as blank as that canvas staring | | | | overwhelmed again. You feel lost again until you |
| back at you, but the ideas will come. You get a | | | | have a subject. But then, you are back to work |
| glimpse of your art project and you begin to | | | | battling through the thought processes and |
| form an idea. You focus on it and you hone in on | | | | making a new piece of art come to life. That's |
| it. I like to think of it as torque. When you use | | | | the process and it makes you stronger every |
| torque, it is a precision motion. You have to find | | | | time. |
| the exact torque. Focus, hone in, torque are all | | | | There are so many byproducts to the practice of |
| the same descriptors I like to use for bringing | | | | art. Therapeutic, enlightening, productive, the |
| your artwork to the canvas. | | | | benefits of art will always be a long and |
| The more you torque it, the clearer it gets. You | | | | distinguished list that more people ought to notice. |
| see it develop right in front of you. Now instead | | | | When a person lacks self-esteem, put a brush in |
| of looking at a blank canvas, you are looking at | | | | their hand and point them to the canvas. It's far |
| the actual start of something. It still may not look | | | | more effective than years of therapy. |
| like much. But, you've just got started. Your work | | | | |