The triaLS & Errors of making a masterpiece

The most common misconception about Visual Arts and creating art, is that it is a leisure activity that is done with ease and enjoyment. Don’t get me wrong, I do consider it to be a leisure time when I find time to make my own art, but it’s rarely easy and it’s the trial and error that people either love or hate...and of course I love it! Young artists often struggle with the trials and errors and prefer each attempt to be a great success. Weaving takes a great deal of time and focus and again, some people love it and others hate it, but after experiencing it I hope there is a better understanding and appreciation for the hard work put into the textiles that surround us. As we have been exploring printmaking, my older students are learning that art making can be difficult and even strenuous at times. The multiple steps and the muscle required to carve into a surface can be surprising as well as tiring. But the idea of mass production is the silver lining for creating the printing plate. And, no matter how much we plan and believe to understand what the print will look like in the final product, it is inevitably a surprise.