I may not be the next Pablo Picasso or Klimt but as a child, I always remember my art being distinct.
As someone who had undiagnosed ADHD, I never fit the stereotype of an art student and was always picked on by my art teacher for adding my own touch to my work not being able to replicate a piece similar to 14 other students. This always made me question my artistic ability and created resentment in my heart.
Eventually, I started avoiding classes and hiding in an empty classroom because I was ashamed to showcase my ordinary splashes of colour against pieces worthy of being hung at a museum.
I masked my introvert characteristic by acting rebellious and unbothered. Those instances left a mark on me and that was when I knew, I am different.
My art tutor was not a great mentor, she thought limited a childs imagination to a box was the way to go. It made me hate my own safe space and I stopped indulging in any form of creativity for a while. Luckily, she taught me exactly WHO I DID NOT want to be.
On the contrary, I was blessed with a tutor who believed in me. She taught me Geography and her interest in me and my approach made me want to learn. I developed such immense interest and would look forward to her classes.
Then what? A girl who was once considered careless and offered ZERO support after recently losing her mom and giving her CIES ended up with a distinction!
Nobody could believe it and were shook but the only one who did, my mentor, knew I was worth that extra attention.
A child is not lazy or dumb. They may need that extra push or a little more encouragement than others to seek their talents and polish them. A little goes a long way!
One day, i’d love to be able to create a platform where they gave an outlet to embrace their emotions through art. A safe space where we can ensure that no child ever has to let go of their craft because of fear or lack of guidance. May they never kill the artist within them because they were told to.
“If a flower doesn’t bloom, you don’t cut it, you change it’s environment and it will flourish”
Stay colourful. Keep dreaming.
Until next time.
