What I did last night-This is what it looked like before-

I fought with this piece. I really liked it before I started adding things to it. I may still change it later but it's better then it was when I wasn't happy with it-it's not the "look"-it's what it "said". To me, it's not about the "look" of the page, but if it says what I want it to say via using words OR images. It still doesn't "say" what I want it to say 100% but it is better.

It was supposed to be a page about how I have a hard time "shutting down" some times. I can't read or look at "art books" before I go to bed as my brain clicks on instead of off and I will have a hard time falling asleep. I keep idea notebooks by my bed where I jot down the little things that pop into my head-colors, compositions, book ideas, etc...

Some people "get" that there are literally thousands and thousands of ways to do things-always new ways to paint, collage, make books, etc... That's why I have over 300 classes. Yes, we may use paint but I try to always make it different-different ways to layer and do things. As an artist the way you do things is never wrong, it's just different.

I have a friend who wants to draw. My honest belief is that everyone can draw-everyone. Yet, we don't draw the way our art teacher wants us to draw. We don't draw the way our inner critic wants us to draw. The way to draw (or to make any kind of art) is to just keep at it. Just draw-or paint-constantly (or whenever you can, as much as you can). The more you sit and DO, things will start. Classes and books might help give you a kick in the pants but you will never "get there" unless you do it yourself and you do it at home, at work, on the train, in line at the bank, etc... You can draw. Pull out the pencil, doodle like crazy and see what starts to come out. Throw away any preconceived ideas or notions and just PLAY-play like you do with paint, play like you do with your handwriting. Just PLAY. The more you play, the more you will learn and develop and figure out what you like and what you know-'cause you do know. Deep down inside you know. Just like you did when you were little and you could draw for hours. You didn't care if the person you drew had little arms and a big head, you LOVED it. It was your drawing. YOU did it and you embraced it.