The Rules for Painting and Life
Years ago when I starting going to college and taking workshops I discovered that each teacher I encountered had a set of
beliefs or rules that they expected the students to follow and to deviate from these rules would be met with a firm reprimand. The strange thing was often one teacher’s rules contradicted another’s which became quite a challenge to keep
them all straight when it came to handing in assignments. As a result I came up with a set of rules of my own which I will share with you.
I introduce all of my students to these rules and encourage them to embrace them above all the previous rules they may
have heard before. They go like this:
Rule #1 – There are No Rules! Just really good advice.
It almost sounds crazy to have a list of rules and the first rule is that there are none. In actuality we are a society made up of
many rules from the moment we wake up until we close our eyes to sleep. We are expected to be able to perform certain tasks and to follow rules for acceptable behaviour either in public or alone; we almost need to give ourselves permission to let go of the need for them. Hence rule number one.
Rule number one is more than just words it should be your mantra. Everything you are taught or shown as to how to do this or that, must be tested and if it works for you great, if it doesn’t forget it. The one thing that stops progressive thinking is caring about all the rules. So if we take the rest of the rules on the list into consideration we can look at everything we learn about creativity as really good advice that may or may not apply to you.
Rule #2 – If it works, keep doing it.
Rule #3 – If it doesn’t work, stop doing
it.
Rule #4 – Get a second opinion
Rule #5 – Knowledge doesn’t guarantee
results
Rule
#6 – Creativity needs the company of
Creativity
Rule #7 – Challenge yourself and you will
grow
Rule #8 – Creativity needs exercise
daily
Rule #9 – If you think you know it all, sorry you don’t! There
is always more to learn.
Rule #10 – Believe in your Dreams
These rules have been the philosophy behind my weekly columns and foundation behind my upcoming book. So in the weeks that follow you may see where these ten rules may be the focus of each column. I welcome your feedback and thoughts and encourage you to not only adopt these rules for yourself but to add a few more of your own to keep you from getting off track when it comes to your creative self.
Years ago when I starting going to college and taking workshops I discovered that each teacher I encountered had a set of
beliefs or rules that they expected the students to follow and to deviate from these rules would be met with a firm reprimand. The strange thing was often one teacher’s rules contradicted another’s which became quite a challenge to keep
them all straight when it came to handing in assignments. As a result I came up with a set of rules of my own which I will share with you.
I introduce all of my students to these rules and encourage them to embrace them above all the previous rules they may
have heard before. They go like this:
Rule #1 – There are No Rules! Just really good advice.
It almost sounds crazy to have a list of rules and the first rule is that there are none. In actuality we are a society made up of
many rules from the moment we wake up until we close our eyes to sleep. We are expected to be able to perform certain tasks and to follow rules for acceptable behaviour either in public or alone; we almost need to give ourselves permission to let go of the need for them. Hence rule number one.
Rule number one is more than just words it should be your mantra. Everything you are taught or shown as to how to do this or that, must be tested and if it works for you great, if it doesn’t forget it. The one thing that stops progressive thinking is caring about all the rules. So if we take the rest of the rules on the list into consideration we can look at everything we learn about creativity as really good advice that may or may not apply to you.
Rule #2 – If it works, keep doing it.
Rule #3 – If it doesn’t work, stop doing
it.
Rule #4 – Get a second opinion
Rule #5 – Knowledge doesn’t guarantee
results
Rule
#6 – Creativity needs the company of
Creativity
Rule #7 – Challenge yourself and you will
grow
Rule #8 – Creativity needs exercise
daily
Rule #9 – If you think you know it all, sorry you don’t! There
is always more to learn.
Rule #10 – Believe in your Dreams
These rules have been the philosophy behind my weekly columns and foundation behind my upcoming book. So in the weeks that follow you may see where these ten rules may be the focus of each column. I welcome your feedback and thoughts and encourage you to not only adopt these rules for yourself but to add a few more of your own to keep you from getting off track when it comes to your creative self.
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