How to Hold a Pencil -

When you’re learning something new, embarking on a new skill, you’re going to meet many people farther along the path than you.

This is normal.

They will seek to guide you on the path. They will offer advice. Some will have your best interest at heart; some won’t. Some will know how to teach; some won’t.

This is also normal.

Many times you can survive these types. And yes I do mean ‘survive’ but that’s another post.

However, I want to talk about something that is also normal, but dangerous. Someone you may meet in the guise of a mentor, professor, or professional: A creativity killer.

Most of these people don’t set out to be creative murderers. They don’t wake up and think: ‘How can I completely destroy the artistic, creative enthusiasm of the people who trust me?’ as they sip their morning tea/coffee/blood.

These people may be well-meaning (in a very limited ‘obey me or you are nothing but slime way’) but I’ve seen them destroy genius, motivation and enthusiasm faster than a torch used to light a birthday candle.

How can you spot these creative serial killers?

They usually speak in absolutes.

They have very definite ways on how things MUST be done. In art school, it’s the professor who tells you there is only ONE way to hold a pencil.

In a drafting class, it’s the professor who BANS brush pens (and leaves you with a lingering guilt for using them even many years later).

The mentor who disparages your commercial work as a lesser use of your talent.

The professional who tells you what you must NEVER write otherwise you have the intellectual capacity of a snow pea.

Again, these are not bad people (some are, but most aren’t). Some are successful in their chosen field (and then are blinded by their own success), some are not successful yet (those are the ones to be extra careful of, there may be the hidden poison of envy lurking just behind the smile).

Once you spot these (unintentional) creative murderers there are actions you can take.

If you’re trapped in a class with one, consider dropping the class. Or, if you have to take the class, keep your head down, follow their rules (and break them on your own time) and wait until the prison sentence—I mean semester—has passed.

If it is a mentor, get another mentor. Or set boundaries—they can discuss this but not that.

If it is a professional you admire, take what you can learn and toss the rest (lie to them and make them feel good, it’s a great strategy for artistic survival—no one really needs to know your process, especially if it works for you).

It is essential to seek knowledge, to continue to learn and grow, but anything that halts your creativity is to be rooted out. Banished. Anything that gets your creative voice to say ‘uh oh’ is a warning to guard yourself. I don’t care if the person is the top of their chosen career, if you’ve idolized them since you were a toddler, they’re not you.

Too often people try to make replicas of themselves. We don’t need replicas. We need originals.

The easiest, quickest way to be original? Be yourself. Be the originator of your work. There, you’re original.

Of course, there’s no harm in trying a new way to hold a pencil.

It’s fun to experiment and you may find that a new way works for you. That it helps you approach the work in a different way. Hurrah!

But if it doesn’t…

If it stops you from creating?

Go back to the magic.

A pen, a brush, a keyboard. They’re merely doorways to unlock the magic.

Hold them and use them in the way that lets your creativity flow.