You are NOT an Artist

Notes Being a person who makes art.

You are NOT an artist.

You are a person who sometimes makes art. The idea here is to recognize the primacy of your personhood and art as a secondary nature. An occasional practice.

You are a person.

The act of living, of doing the things you do - gives you a unique perspective, a unique point of view. You have unique experiences. You have a unique life.

When you make something, you are pouring that life into a material so that another person can experience both your particular expression and impression of life, but also the common Life that animates all of us.

And that expression is beautiful, that is why we love kids’ drawings. To be a 10-Minute Artist, to begin a creative practice can be as simple as expressing yourself for 10 minutes like a child would.

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10-Minute Artist: Free Assignment

Fill in the blank (positive vibes only):

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

I am a _____________ person

Instructions:

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes

2. This is an art project. Use physical materials, paper, and pencil, a whiteboard, paint, anything, but not your device.

3. Write the prompt 7 times “I am a _____________ person” , don’t fill in the blanks while writing the prompts

4. Write slowly, as if you were making art, be conscious/mindful of forming every letter, and drawing that line that you will soon fill.

5. Take a moment to think about potential answers … at least 10 before writing anything down.

6. Fill in the blank with fancy writing, whatever that means to you, maybe it’s writing in cursive, or using colored pencils, you’re not trying to impress anyone, just express yourself like a child for 10 minutes.

7. It’s okay to take more than 10 minutes if you want, or as we say, go ahead and spend another 10-minute session if you want to keep going.

8. When you’re done keep the art you made in a safe place one day we’ll do a ‘gallery’ for everyone to share their work. (Totally Optional)

9. Congratulations, you made some art, you’re a 10-minute artist!

10. If you like, come back here and tell everyone about your experience doing the exercise in the comments - how did it feel to set aside 10 minutes to be an artist?

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End, of dispatch, now go make art for 10 minutes

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