The Craft of Art: An Unseen Journey From Craft to Creativity

Art and craft. Two terms that are often used interchangeably, yet denote two distinct universes. As the founder of DLTK's Crafts for Kids, I have always tried to draw a clear line in the sand between these two concepts. The initiation of my new middle-aged place of contemplation, a blog called LeanneSpace, has now provided a platform to delve deeper into this dichotomy. I firmly believe that crafting can be taught, whereas art... well, art is a different ball game altogether.

Crafting is akin to learning a new language, a systematic accumulation of skills that you can acquire, perfect, and even be evaluated on. It's a step-by-step process, where you follow predefined instructions to create a predefined outcome. It's a science that involves replicating patterns and designs to produce something tangible and recognizable.

Art, on the other hand, is a language of the soul. It's about breaking free from the shackles of convention and conformity, about daring to disrupt the expected and venture into the unknown. It's about creating something that's personal, unique, and a reflection of the creator's innermost thoughts and feelings. It's a journey of self-discovery that transcends the boundaries of teachable skills.

Teaching art? It's like trying to cage a free bird. It curbs creativity and discourages individualism. Grading art? It's like trying to measure the immeasurable. It imposes an unjustified structure on a free-spirited process. It's a futile attempt to standardize something that is inherently individualistic.

I view crafting as the fundamental building block for art. Just as a child learns to say "hello" before they can pen a novel, a play, or a poem, crafting sets the stage for the blossoming of art. It provides the tools, the techniques, and the confidence to break free from the mold and explore the uncharted territory of creativity.

The legendary artist, Pablo Picasso, once remarked, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." I couldn't agree more. Children are naturally creative and uninhibited. They are not afraid to break rules, to experiment, to create. It's the adult world that stifles this natural creativity with its insistence on conformity and structure.

My daughter, Tasha, is a living embodiment of this truth. Tasha possesses an innate artistic talent, a natural flair for bending the rules and experimenting with her creations. Yet, her creative spirit was misunderstood and underappreciated in a world that values conformity over creativity.

Throughout her grade school years, Tasha was always drawn towards art classes. She had a knack for crafting, but she yearned to transcend the boundaries of craft and venture into the realm of art. However, her teachers, bound by the confines of the syllabus, failed to appreciate her creative expressions.

One incident stands out in my memory. Tasha had created a stunning black-and-white painting, reminiscent of an Ansel Adams masterpiece. However, she added a splash of red to her work, a bold deviation that carried a profound symbolism related to a family member she had lost. While she meticulously followed the craft techniques such as the rule of thirds and the use of s-curves, she dared to break the rules to express her emotions and create a piece of art.

However, her teacher didn't see it that way. She marked Tasha down for deviating from the assignment's guidelines. I tried to explain to the teacher that Tasha wasn't just creating a craft project. She was expressing her feelings, her grief, her memories through her painting. She was creating art.

Despite my plea, the grade remained unchanged. Tasha was disillusioned.

She never enrolled in another art class. Not through grade school. Not through high school. Not through her undergrad degree, her masters or her PhD. She still makes art but she doesn't share it often. If we're lucky and visit at the right time, we sometimes catch a tiny glimpse. I wonder if we all served her well when educating her -- and by we, I include myself. For me, this is a stark reminder of the restrictive boundaries that formal education can impose on individual creativity. It is also a testament to the widespread misunderstanding of the true essence of art.

It's not that I'm against grading or assessment. Evaluation is crucial in every learning process, crafting included. It helps to identify areas of improvement, motivates learners, and provides a sense of achievement. However, it becomes counterproductive when applied to art in the same way as to craft. Art isn't a skill to be measured; it's an expression to be appreciated.

The experience with Tasha led me to question the way art is taught and assessed in our education system. Why not call these classes "Craft" or "Art Skills" classes? This way, we acknowledge the skill-based nature of the lessons and provide a more accurate framework for assessment.

By doing so, perhaps we can create a nurturing environment where students can learn and master craft skills without the fear of being penalized for their creativity. They can then use these skills as stepping stones to their artistic journey, just like Tasha did with her painting.

Art is a personal journey of self-expression, a testament to individual creativity. It's the courage to defy the norm, to question the status quo, to create something uniquely personal. It's about finding your voice in a world filled with noise. And this voice shouldn't be stifled by rigid grading systems or restrictive teaching methods.

As I embark on this new journey with LeanneSpace, I aim to create a space that encourages open discussions on art and craft, and everything in between. A space that promotes creativity, freedom, and individual expression. A space that understands the nuances between art and craft, and appreciates the value of both.

LeanneSpace, for me, is more than just a blog. It's a platform for individuals like Tasha, who have a story to tell, a perspective to share, a voice to be heard and for individuals like me, who have sometimes failed to honor that story or hear that voice. It's a testament to the power of creativity and the unyielding spirit of art.

The journey from crafting to art is not a straight path. It's an intricate labyrinth filled with twists and turns, trials and tribulations. But it's a journey worth embarking on. Because at the end of the day, the true essence of art is not about creating the perfect piece, but about finding the perfect piece within you.

So, let's embark on this journey together. Let's celebrate the craft in our hands and the art in our hearts. Let's learn, create, experiment, and discover. Because in the grand scheme of things, we are all artists in our own unique ways. And it's time we embrace our inner Picasso, one craft at a time.