As a part of the celebration of “Arts in Education Month” I have put a call out for stories about the impact the arts have had…personal, informative, or both.
Below is a story from artist, Ross Tomlin, which is both personal and informative. THANK YOU, ROSS!!!
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Making art is problem-solving, and problem-solving is life. In art, as in life, creativity and reasoning are required to grow, to evolve, to better oneself. As they say, genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Replace “genius” with “solving a problem” for a moment. Unexpected and unpleasant roadblocks constantly present themselves whenever I embark on a drawing or painting. My works never turn out as intended at the outset, oftentimes not even remotely. A canvas is a minefield. Without exception, I must navigate the dozens, even hundreds, of minor-to-major challenges within each piece in order to arrive at a composition I deem aesthetically and conceptually acceptable. These experiences undoubtedly aid me in similar “real world” situations in which no easy answer presents itself, including financial predicaments, moral dilemmas, time management, and risk assessment. Examples range from cooking a deluxe meal from scratch to charting the direction of a multinational corporation into a future of uncertainties. Maximizing one’s resourcefulness in these situations requires (roughly) equal amounts of creativity and reasoning, both of which art enhances in ways other fields of study cannot–and vice versa.
Copious evidence shows that student performance in math and science is higher in schools with arts programs than in those without. This is not to say one field of study is more important or valuable than another–these are highly subjective calls. Rather, these findings provide hard evidence to substantiate claims like mine that art opens up channels between both hemispheres in the brain. This process of self-discovery both entails and advances the reciprocal evolution of one’s creativity and reasoning and, hence, problem-solving skills. The earlier this process begins, it is the more adaptive, resourceful, and well-rounded adult a child grows up to become.
“My works never turn out as intended at the outset, oftentimes not even remotely. A canvas is a minefield.”
Beautifully said, and here is one who agrees with you:
I have never begun a poem in which I knew how it would end…~Robert Frost
Very well written and further emphasizes the importance of art education in our schools. As the budget ax of our state legislators continues on its rampage of public education we must be vigilant in protecting these very important aspects of a well rounded education for all students.