We tend to spend our time doing the things we know we do well-running because we're good runners or painting because we're talented artists. Tell us about a time when you tried something for which you had no talent. How did it go?
I will not comment on my artistic skills in middle school. The straight 'C's in report card explains everything. Every time my art teacher told me that "your work is very creative", I knew exactly that she was trying to avoid the topic of 'neatness' or 'detail' of my artwork. My mother, unable to ignore the conspicuous 'C' in my report card, got me an art tutor.
In the first lesson, the teacher placed a coconut-sized gypsum cube right in front of me. "Draw it using any method you want" the teacher told me in a cheerful voice; I squeezed a smile but it faded in one second. I took a deep breath, grabbed my pencil tight, 'sketched' the first line, and moved the drawing board further away to examine the result. A twisty and thick line, like an earthworm, appeared on my paper; its presence symbolized my impossibility to finish the simple cube. My unnatural sense of humor suddenly appeared and I started giggling. Distracted by my laughter, the teacher approached, with a dubious facial expression, and checked my progress. I didn't dare to look straight into her, but the corner of my eyes captured her reaction-took aback by my 'artwork' and paused a few seconds not knowing what to say. "Keep on trying" she recommended; I knew exactly that she recognized me as a hopeless case. In the next hour, my initial interest was eaten away, now replaced with frustration and impatience. I started scribbling on the paper and knocking the board vapidly. Perceived my feeling, the teacher came and attempted to explain to me the details of the cube: "now observe it closely, you can see the reflection of light from the table, right? So the bottom part of the cube should be a bit lighter...". I had no idea what she was talking about; it was just a cube, the shaded region was just a chunk of blackness, I could see absolutely NO difference in its darkness!
This lesson ended with a conversation, between the teacher and my mom, about my performance. The tutor looked toward me and smiled benevolently, which to me seemed more like a conciliatory act. After few seconds of consideration, she concluded: "Chunghan has his own style in drawing; he'll get better with more practice and more patience". Style...what a clever euphemism to describe my clumsiness.
Two years later, I became capable of drawing much complicated items, such as a portrayal of my brother's head, but I knew that I still had no way to catch up with the skills of those who planned to be professional artists. When the talented art students took one hour to finish a sketch, I needed a minimum of two hours working on the same thing, to reach a similar quality. But I didn't envy them. My artworks, too, were admired and nominated to exhibit in the principal's office. I realized that people like my artworks despite the sometimes rough and 'not visually beautiful' appearance; they would say the exact same thing as did my teachers: "your work is special". Now, whenever a person tells me that my artwork is creative, I will reply him with a big smile and a "thank you" whole-heartedly, knowing that it is the best praise I can ever enjoy. After all, I was not born with a painting brush in hand, so I cannot appeal the others' eyeballs with fantastic details; however, I CAN replace the skills with something else I am confident with-creativity. I am not an artist, but I can produce an artwork that stands out from a group of superficial beauties.
This is my first draft and I need some overall suggestions. For example, the content is too dull or meaningless. Also, I need some help to decide which conclusion is better.
Thank you all! Happy to help you in return!
I will not comment on my artistic skills in middle school. The straight 'C's in report card explains everything. Every time my art teacher told me that "your work is very creative", I knew exactly that she was trying to avoid the topic of 'neatness' or 'detail' of my artwork. My mother, unable to ignore the conspicuous 'C' in my report card, got me an art tutor.
In the first lesson, the teacher placed a coconut-sized gypsum cube right in front of me. "Draw it using any method you want" the teacher told me in a cheerful voice; I squeezed a smile but it faded in one second. I took a deep breath, grabbed my pencil tight, 'sketched' the first line, and moved the drawing board further away to examine the result. A twisty and thick line, like an earthworm, appeared on my paper; its presence symbolized my impossibility to finish the simple cube. My unnatural sense of humor suddenly appeared and I started giggling. Distracted by my laughter, the teacher approached, with a dubious facial expression, and checked my progress. I didn't dare to look straight into her, but the corner of my eyes captured her reaction-took aback by my 'artwork' and paused a few seconds not knowing what to say. "Keep on trying" she recommended; I knew exactly that she recognized me as a hopeless case. In the next hour, my initial interest was eaten away, now replaced with frustration and impatience. I started scribbling on the paper and knocking the board vapidly. Perceived my feeling, the teacher came and attempted to explain to me the details of the cube: "now observe it closely, you can see the reflection of light from the table, right? So the bottom part of the cube should be a bit lighter...". I had no idea what she was talking about; it was just a cube, the shaded region was just a chunk of blackness, I could see absolutely NO difference in its darkness!
This lesson ended with a conversation, between the teacher and my mom, about my performance. The tutor looked toward me and smiled benevolently, which to me seemed more like a conciliatory act. After few seconds of consideration, she concluded: "Chunghan has his own style in drawing; he'll get better with more practice and more patience". Style...what a clever euphemism to describe my clumsiness.
Two years later, I became capable of drawing much complicated items, such as a portrayal of my brother's head, but I knew that I still had no way to catch up with the skills of those who planned to be professional artists. When the talented art students took one hour to finish a sketch, I needed a minimum of two hours working on the same thing, to reach a similar quality. But I didn't envy them. My artworks, too, were admired and nominated to exhibit in the principal's office. I realized that people like my artworks despite the sometimes rough and 'not visually beautiful' appearance; they would say the exact same thing as did my teachers: "your work is special". Now, whenever a person tells me that my artwork is creative, I will reply him with a big smile and a "thank you" whole-heartedly, knowing that it is the best praise I can ever enjoy. After all, I was not born with a painting brush in hand, so I cannot appeal the others' eyeballs with fantastic details; however, I CAN replace the skills with something else I am confident with-creativity. I am not an artist, but I can produce an artwork that stands out from a group of superficial beauties.
This is my first draft and I need some overall suggestions. For example, the content is too dull or meaningless. Also, I need some help to decide which conclusion is better.
Thank you all! Happy to help you in return!
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