My art teacher told me I was 'too careful' and it ruined my watercolors for a month

Honestly, back in 9th grade at Lincoln Middle School, Mrs. Chen said my landscapes looked like I traced them. She told me to 'just mess up a sky' and I got so mad I didn't paint for weeks. Tbh, looking back, she was right - I kept everything so stiff and perfect that it had no life at all. Has anyone else had a teacher or mentor give feedback that felt insulting but actually helped you grow?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_gibson2718d ago

Ngl just paint like you're mad at the paper for a bit.

murray.jana18d ago

Lowkey this works cause you stop overthinking every brushstroke. It's like the chaos forces your brain off autopilot and you actually see what the paint is doing instead of what you think it should do.

fiona_west2117d ago

And is that the same kind of energy you'd bring to like, a specific project you're stuck on? Or is it more of a general warm-up thing? Because I've tried the "just go nuts" approach and half the time I just end up with a muddy mess (which, granted, sometimes has a cool texture I didn't plan on). But the other half I get so frustrated I actually have to walk away from the easel for a bit. I guess what I'm asking is, how do you keep that anger focused on the paper and not let it turn into frustration with yourself? Because that's where I always seem to get tripped up.