Turn The Page Around
One day, quite a few years back, one of my children was having a silent tantrum and refused to write a few sentences for a teacher. He was having a difficult time, slouched in his chair, pouting. She had a very cool-looking pencil that she was taking notes with. She noticed that he would raise his eyes to steal a glimpse at her pencil. She proceeded to ask him if he would like to swap pencils, and then maybe he would write? He straightened up mighty fast, looked her straight in the eye, and nodded a very firm “yes”. My son changed his attitude so fast, totally cooperated, wrote what the teacher requested, sat back with a big smile on his face, and continued to play with the pencil. The teacher in return was very pleased with the outcome, both my son’s behavior and the fact that she received the desired paragraph, that she gifted him with the pencil. For the rest of that school year, that pencil became “the” magic pencil to do any assignment that appeared challenging. Magically, all difficulties disappeared when he picked up that pencil. For me, it was a formative event. Psychology aside, the pencil event showed me that often by changing something small, even irrelevant to the process, we can change our attitude and even outcome of a situation or product.
“From The Beach” – acrylic on round canvas 50cm @Barbara Adler Art 2021
As a teacher, I brought the concept of changing something small and irrelevant into the classroom. I swapped the “magic pencil” to “moving/turning the page” As an art teacher, I found that my students often felt challenged by small happenings in the process that discouraged them and made them frustrated which consequently would turn them off from doing art. For instance, drawing a circle; Instead of doing it in one go, do half and then the other half. Another way that works well also when shading or coloring, just to turn the page/paper around. Who said it had to remain static on the table?! When I draw, I love to sit comfortably with the sketch pad on my knees. I am forever turning the pad around.
“Life” Acrylic on Canvas, 70/50 cm @ Barbara Adler Art 2021
Artists think outside the box. Artists are creative. Artists constantly are “turning the page around”. When things get challenging, just “turn the page around”. Even when looking at a work of art, just because the signature/ the artist’s intent was to have it looked at a certain way, doesn’t mean that the spectator must abide by that. The spectator may like it upside down. That’s fine. Especially when the artwork was purchased. The purchasers can do as they understand when hanging the painting. They may give it a new interpretation. The artwork after it has left the artist's studio has a life of its own, given meaning by those that behold it.
Tun the page around. Find your art. There is Art for everyone’s state of mind, desires, and tastes. Take a break, reflect and delve into some of my art, to my stories.
All the works on this blog are for sale and are Barbara Adler originals. I love talking about my art, so feel free to DM/contact me regarding my art and possibly making it yours.
See more of my art, perhaps find a suitable workshop and read more of my blogs on my website:
BAArtworks.com
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