I was terrified of making mistakes until I discovered a secret in art school.

Within two weeks the entire class would laugh as soon as I hung my picture, with theirs, on the wall. You see my teacher went from picture to picture pointing out strengths and weakness and EVERY TIME he got to mine he’d say, “This is exactly what I was going to tell everyone what not to do,” or, “This is a perfect example of bad taste.” The class squirmed with the giggles just waiting to see what flavor my critique would come in.

Every time I’d turn red, it was uncomfortable, but I loved it too because I was LEARNING so much. For years I’d drawn and painted and not liked the product but I never knew why. AND NOW I WAS FINALLY FINDING OUT THE WHYS.

The others were seeing an example of principles. But I was doing the learning!

I decided I’d turn in two pictures, not one, for each assignment given. Soon I turned in three, four, and up to seven. Each different in its own way so I could learn in as many directions as I could dream up.

You can’t do it wrong. You can do it twice.  nancymauerman.com

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