Lilies and Mint, and 'The Talent Code'

It's truly summer today. Did a little sketching this morning in my backyard. I really enjoy brush pen and have several filled with a couple different colored inks. I love red and warm colored line work. It adds zing. In the first sketch I used Noodler's Cayenne ink which is a lovely bright red. It's water soluble so bleeds when I add watercolor. Frustrating to control. In the second drawing I used a waterproof ink with the idea of seeing the difference of more control and maybe improving on the first drawing. Ha! I like it less! I think the looseness and lack of control along with the mistakes makes for a more interesting drawing, as frustrating as it was while drawing it. I was wrapping myelin. Which brings me to this...

Been reading 'The Talent Code' by Daniel Coyle. It's a fascinating read and quite helpful. It gives me some real tools to grasp in my attempts to improve my skills. His study is a confirmation of my beliefs. It's always been my mantra that there's no such thing as talent. I've noticed that over the years in teaching, seeing students grow leaps and bounds, achieve great skills and make amazing art. It's all hard work. Doing it over and over and over with goals in mind. Practicing beyond one's ability, reaching and failing and reaching... and failing, until one finally achieves the desired skill. Daniel Coyle calls it 'deep practice.' It's all about myelin wrapping around neurons and other factors that ignite the desire to attain skills. I highly recommend the book. Read it, practice and grow some myelin!