The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

Picasso Was Right

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(Pic #1) “Scuba Doo” drawing by Mickey Goldman, age 5. Los Angeles, Cali.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” — Pablo Picasso

I carry on about this all the time in my corporate creativity workshops: consistent artistic expression brings all kinds of creative breakthroughs. But more than that, it’s a chance to feed your soul and experience pure joy.

In times like these (a resurgence in cases of Covid19) we need all the stress relief we can get. Making art —whether in the form of painting, poetry, music, pottery or dance — can offer a way for us to cope, even thrive. So why the heck are we not taking full advantage of the time to create? It comes down to one thing: fear. Fear of not measuring up and fear of letting go. But the big secret is: we didn’t used to be that way.

Mickey’s daily art class / Her Mom Jamie is a supercharged homeschooler right now!

My 5-year-old great niece, Mickey confirmed Picasso’s proclamation again for me today. Fearlessly, when handed some fresh markers, she announced she was going to “draw a scuba diver.”  I’m not sure who she had in mind when she chose that subject, but she totally nailed it. (Pic #1 top). She didn’t stop for second. She conceptualized and executed her vision with chutzpah and complete commitment. No re-thinking, no self-criticism. Pure art from the heart. (And honestly, how brilliant is her concept of being immersed in deep water — represented by all the waves in motion?)

Every time I see Mickey’s artwork I feel a sense of awe. She is making art for herself, freely, and wildly untethered to the insecurities that come with adulthood. I pray the rest of us can find a path to that free expression, and maybe, just maybe, we can reclaim what was once ours.

 

Famous 5-Year-Old Is A Painting Prodigy…Just Like You

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Her name is Aelita Andre and she is the latest “it” girl in the world of abstract art. No less a publication than The New York Times asks if she is the next Jackson Pollock. Her work is described as mesmerizing. A top gallerist in New York calls her a genius.  She is 5-years-old.  Look at her stuff, the critics are right. It’s bold and passionate and explosive. Just like Pollock. Just like a handful of other abstract-expressionist masters.

And just like thousands of other 5-year-olds. See, the grown-up superstars of the current art scene, whose work sells for millions of dollars, and the barely-out-of preschool painters whose  work adorns their parents’ refridgerator doors have one other thing in common: They are fearless with a paintbrush in their hands.

Above: Three young artists fearlessly explore acrylic paints at Loren Miller City Park in South Central Los Angeles. (Photo by Anita Bartlett.)

For the kids, art is a pure expression of joyful creativity. Hand a 3-year-old a box of crayons, or watercolors, and nothing stands in the way of their artistic creation — except maybe bedtime.  I’ve seen this hundreds of times with inner-city children at the regular art-in-the-parks workshops I hold.  It reminds me of what art is supposed to be. Free of judgement, zovirax free of doubt, just plain free.

But before long, someone.. another child.. a teacher.. even an insensitive parent looks at one of those baby masterpieces and says, “What’s that supposed to be?” and suddenly there is a little hesitation in the hand that holds the brush, the first brick in the wall that will soon totally separate us from the innocent wonder of creation. By the time we’re adults, most of us have lost so much of that artistic free spirit, we say things like “ I can’t even draw a stick figure.”

Now, for the masters whose work you’ve seen in the great galleries and museums, their drive and passion to create great art overtakes the self-doubt and inner critic that we develop as we grow older. But that is so rare.

So when I see Aelita paint, it takes me back to when I was that 5-year-old,and the world literally was my canvas. I hope it stays that way for her. For me, well, I’m constantly struggling to recapture those feelings.  It’s a battle worth fighting.

Above, left: Two girls share their collaborative “abstract-expression” at Algin Sutton Park in South Central Los Angeles. Right: Young painter shares his “secret ingredient” during Christmas workshop.

 

Fearlessness: Tips Kids Already Know

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How one young Apple customer rocked a store and the internet

Trevor Michael is one of the latest YouTube sensations racking up over 2 million viewers by just being Trevor. He’s a 12-year old Temecula California boy who frequents “as many Apple Stores as he can” to make dance videos. He has his own YouTube channel and thousands of enthusiastic comments from fans who praise him with words like “EPIC.”

In the video above, the pre-teen from So-Cal energetically lip syncs the pop hit “Check it Out” by will.i.am
 — featuring Nicki Minaj. He’s completely oblivious to the world around him, but manages to re-set the camera, stay in the shot, and glide effortlessly through the crowded store aisles.

How does he pull it off? Surrounded by a storefull of strangers and Apple employees—Trevor is nonplussed. He is focused on the music—and his passion for pure expression—no matter what others think.

Professor Jeff Nelsen of Indiana University may not have known Trevor when he wrote ‘Ten Tips On Becoming  Fearless” but he probably could have saved some time on research by watching the young cyber-star at work. The author describes “fearlessness” as “a mental state of complete faith in the moment at hand and any task ahead.”

Why are kids so fearless?

Kids play in the present. They have no fear of consequences. No fear of failure. We can learn from that—and we can consider these tips from Professor Nelsen– whether you perform on stage, on a playing field, or in a corporate boardroom, you can use these methods to replace your nerves:

Tip #1:

“Flawlessness” is not the primary goal. An error-free performance is not the ultimate test of your abilities, Nelsen says, “What makes a performer good is that he or she is human, and brings to the art something more than what is written on the page. Otherwise computers would be doing all the recordings.”

Tip #2:

Believe the audience is rooting for you. When it comes time to perform, “Don’t choose the mental trap of thinking they’re waiting for you to mess up,” Nelsen said. “Instead, choose to believe the audience wants you to do well. Whether they really do or not, thinking they are a supportive group of listeners can constructively affect your performance.”

Tip #3:

Sell the story, not yourself. Rather than aiming to showcase your talents, allow your enthusiasm to infect the audience. Nelsen warns that you may want the audience to love you, but instead –“make them an audience that loves what you love.” This requires a constant effort to stay focused on what you are doing, not how you are being perceived. “It’s about now. Now. Now.”


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