[Woodcarver] inborn, ps

[cynda douglas]

PS.  I was thinking about the inborn/taught art thing and remembered that 
my Mother, who taught school for over 20 years never gave us any indication 
that she was at all artistic. And, for what it's worth, she was left 
handed  (while my older sister is ambidextrous.)  Mom never drew anything, 
or even doodled.  But a few times, in her class room I discovered a really 
great drawing on the black board, turkey for Thanksgiving, etc.   I asked 
who drew it for her and of course, she did it.  she did it because it was 
needed in the class room. My mother only did what was very practical.  All 
her creativeness was in her home, and sewing.  Everything had to be 
necessary and useful.
'
When I first tried painting in the early 60's before having my daughter, 
she would criticize it. she never said she liked it, but she did want some 
of them to frame and take home.  It was it this was there,  or wasn't 
there, etc.  I'd get upset  and try to make her understand that I just did 
it because I loved to, but her idea was, if you did something, you should 
do it the best you can and learn to do better.  Years later when Kelly was 
little, I learned that Mom felt that if you praised a child, they would 
quit trying.???? Go figure.  I had praised Kelly for her childish picture 
she drew and showed to  me.  Then I learned why I felt it was soooo 
important to praise my kids highly.  And I learned why nothing I did ever 
felt good enough.  And why I can never get enough or actually believe it.

Maybe that was the way it was for a lot of kids in my generation.  I wonder 
if the ones who stayed with it, who succeeded and had that fire burning in 
them to express themselves with some type of creative art didn't find 
approval somewhere.  Of course then I have to wonder how some maintained 
their drive thru poverty, neglect, and lack of love.  That I believe is in 
the genes or inborn someway and later may be the only way they can express 
what is in them. It may have been the only way for them to find some beauty 
in their life.  Maybe that is where some like Grandma Mosses burst out late 
in life. It was always there, a spirit like a wood spirt, just waiting to 
be recognized and
get out.

Many things are inborn. Look at dogs.  I've had many in my life on a ranch. 
I'd see dogs, the cattle or sheep herding breeds, like a border collie or 
blue heeler, and tho untrained, the'd wanted to herd and chase sheep or 
cattle,
trying to keeps kids herded together, or the cats, etc. Often in city life 
that inner drive leads to trouble, chasing cars, bikes, nipping at heels, 
or in the country leads to chasing the neighbor's sheep or cattle.  They 
just need direction to use the inbred abilities.
And then I  once I had an Irish setter, a sweet dog that had absolutely no
interest in the stock.  But when the kids when riding, she'd be out in 
front of them tail whipping, casting back and forth to hunt pheasants. 
Early on she'd smell one, freeze in a point and you could aim down her nose 
and know exactly where it was..  Later, never trained to hunt, she just 
stop, then run
and flush them. The kids were never agian thrown from pheasants blowing up 
under the noses of their ponies.  Even when  a pup, I've seen Katy point a 
flying grasshopper, or blackbird flying by her.  Those things are there, 
deep inside.  No training, exposure, or anything put it there.  Just 
genes.  To Katy a bum calf was her baby in the yard, to guard and take care 
of, to mother and lick it's face.  I couldn't have taught her to chase one.
Is the desire to create any different?  I don't think so.  for what it's 
worth,---

OK, more of my mullings.
Cynda http://woodneggs.tripod.com