What Learning to Paint and Reading The Elements of Style Have in Common
I envy painters the freedom to convey thoughts without words. So much so that at one difficult stretch in my life I resolved to give up writing and pick up a paint brush. It wasn’t that I supposed that by
The urge to express thoughts without words often draws painters to their craft, a sentiment that led the author to abandon writing for a time. Their decision to immerse themselves in color stemmed from a desire to escape personal crises, such as an empty nest, a struggling novel, and dealing with an aging parent. This choice came after they found inspiration in a book by William Strunk Jr., which later became a style guide in 1918.
The author's passion for illustration led them to Chloë, a cherubic baby with teal blue eyes, carrot-colored hair, and a cherry bow of a mouth. The caption under her portrait encouraged attempting to use the words "like" and "as" in writing. The author signed up for a painting class to learn colors and shapes, but their attempts to paint a bowl of pears were unsuccessful, causing frustration.
A kindergartener could have done a better job. After a few weeks, the instructor suggested learning to draw before attempting painting. The author eventually went to a private instructor who recognized their admiration for illustrator Maira Kalman and encouraged them to draw a pencil first. Despite the instructor's gentle guidance, the author struggled to draw a pencil, feeling inadequate and questioning their potential to become a proficient painter.
The author eventually accepted that drawing and painting are skills that take time and dedication to master.
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