twenty five questions

Why is it that all children have a desire to create and express themselves? And why do most people stop as they become adults? And is there something different about those of us that continue to pursue an artistic career or venture in life? Or is it just simply that we didn’t lose something and others did? Or did we discover the merit and therapeutic expression only making something with your hands can give you, and others did not? 

Or is it simply because it was fun as a child, before we became self conscious and insecure? Then we started being awarded and praised? Did it become a measurable act, and was no longer simply a means of self expression? Do we not want to make because we began to realize that we might fail? That there were others who might be better than us? Maybe it is only those who were praised for their artistic skills and creative minds that continued into a lifetime of art making? Did we realize we liked doing it, and others thought we were good at something, so we just kept doing it? Could it really be that simple? 

Does school kill this desire to create? Does thinking too much squelch our inner voice, and our natural inclination to make?  Does the more formal training a person has actually set them up for a higher chance of not creating? Does education breed doubt? Or is it just human nature to always compare ourselves to others and question our own worth and skills? 

And if it really is that simple, and black and white, how can we encourage all children? How can schools and educators teach students the value of self expression without making them self conscious? How can art teachers still give out grades and not create competition? How can we take the focus away from doing something well, and instead just make it about doing? 

But if this happened, how would art be evaluated? How would one improve their skills and technique if there was no good art and no bad art? Does art actually need to be evaluated and measured and given rank?