Not a drawing talent
I never say someone is a drawing talent. Not even if it's true. To me it was said often when I was young so I know what it's like. Paralysing. You see I was a very good draughtsman and I had so much fun drawing. I filled stacks of paper with animals and princesses (thank you, Disney). Later I drew portraits and studies of my hands to the folds in my jeans.
Hard fail
And then came te moment I didn't progress much anymore. I couldn't get on paper what I wanted. I didn't know that feeling at all. What's this? Why won't it work? I was a talent, was I not? It felt like failing and that didn't feel good. I cramped up my drawing. So I kept doing what I already could, so I wouldn't fail.
But what happens when you avoid the feeling of failure? Derek Sivers explained beautifully. He recounts about the talent starting Point - The Fixed Mindset and the Growth Mindset. Do you believe you being really good at something is dependent on inherited talent? Or can you achieve the same if you work hard (growth)?
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So how does that work?
Suppose you assume a Fixed Mindset and you fail. It's logical to think: why should I bother? Apparently I'm not good (enough). Someone with a Growth Mindset will sooner think: I need to step up.
I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.
Michael Jordan in a great commercial.
Growth by failure
All worked out in high school for me. I had a great art teacher who taught me the joy of experimenting. With colors, with styles, with different materials. Without too much focus on the end result. Failure became interesting, fun even. I sprinted ahead.
It's worth it
Now and again I give guest lectures in Character Design. I pay sharp attention not to reward the person but the effort. The more fails, the better the student is doing. Failure shows they moved out of their comfort zone. That means growth. Then failure is a good thing.
