It sounds so impossible. The first time I heard someone use this phrase was on the soccer field by my friend Tanya Franck Benning as she coached the women's soccer team at Grace University. I Googled the concept and I found out it is a challenge often given to athletes to do practice makes perfect or do this and you will awaken the involuntary responses needed so you no longer need to think about what you are doing. This is when you will play instinctively.
Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of starting to learn how to watercolor paint with Alice Swartz. She brought all her supplies so we could play. I mean paint.
I am definitely over a thousand touches. I try as best I can to watercolor if we sit down to watch TV. This way I am creating and learning while listening.
When I look at what I created in the beginning and gave away, I laugh because people are so kind. Your encouragement all along has been so kind.
I discovered that the process of painting several nights a week became a time of rest and worship. But the actual process of learning wasn't easy. I kept creating even when what I saw in my mind's eye did not match what I created.
I watched how others painted before going to sleep or looked at others paintings. At first it was easier to look at someone else's work, but more and more I found I am jealous for creating my own design. I want to create from my heart and vision not someone elses.
One day Grant Rye said to me, "In the art world, master artists will hire apprentices to paint copies of their original to sell. They are master copiers." I have no idea if he was trying to teach me a lesson, but as much as possible from that point on I started choosing images where I would take shapes, colors, and composites of photos so I could try to create on my own.
It has been an incredible journey. God used this to bless me, encourage me, and challenge my mind. It has been hard trying to learn how to master shapes, color theory, and depth. I still don't get how to do these most of the time, but I keep pressing in.
The most important thing I realized. When I create something, it is my interpretation of what I see and I am able to do in that moment. This is good! Why? Because I am trying! I am creating! I am growing! And yes, a thousand touches works. I am improving.
I also discovered that for art your supplies really matter. It was a powerful game changer when I had good paper, good paints, and the right brush. Oh my!
I want 10,000 touches! Why? Because our God is a creative God and I want to see how HE might create through me.
How about you? What have you given a thousand touches to?
