Practice, Practice, Practice
How do we develop our craft? How do we improve? How do we become more comfortable with our technique? Well, the answer is found in our next watercolor wisdom - lessons I’ve learned through watercolor that can be applied to life –…
Practice, practice, practice…
I can remember my parents signing me up for piano lessons in first grade. I learned quickly that piano lessons were more than the lessons themselves. You were expected to practice during the week to be prepared for the lesson. Or I thought that was the reason. Fast forward to the early 2000s, I began teaching piano lessons. And as a teacher, I helped my students understand that practicing during the week is how the eye-hand coordination, muscle memory, and note identification is developed. It’s not just being prepared to play for the teacher; it’s so much more than that.
Fast forward again to 2019 when I began to teach myself to paint with watercolors. And would you believe that the best way to develop your skills is to practice?! Yes indeed! Frequent repetition and focus are the key. As you learn to paint, the more you paint, the more you learn how to use the brush, how much water to use, how to create texture, how to mix colors, etc. Consistent, frequent practice slowly develops your skills, techniques, confidence, and knowledge.
Jack Kornfield is quoted as saying “through practice, gently and gradually we can collect ourselves and learn how to be more fully with what we do.” The more we practice, the more we focus and experience. We can watch videos (which is how I learned to paint), listen to lectures, read books, etc.; but until we actually DO over and over again, we won’t really develop the knowledge or skills. Practice is repetitive DOING. And the more we practice, the more we learn, grow, understand, and improve.
Practice works for so many areas of life… school… sports… public speaking… typing… and, yes, creative expression through music, art, dance, theater, etc. Practice even assists with managing anxiety. The more we experience those things that cause us to be anxious, the more we learn how to handle them and the more comfortable we become with them. Practice can be beneficial for learning how to be a better listener. The more we practice listening rather than immediately speaking, the more natural it becomes. We can even use practice to change our perspective to a more positive outlook. Repetitive behavior with the intention of growth is the answer.
So, if you want to develop any new skills, learn a new language, or even become a watercolor artist, the answer is simple… practice, practice, practice.