15. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes.

One thing that art teaches our students is that it is okay to make mistakes.  In fact its one of the most important things art teaches young people.  We will try and fail over and over again.  It will hurt our pride.  We will struggle with the disappointment we feel when we mess up a project.  But what art teaches us, what we really need to be taught, is how to fail and how to pick ourselves back up.

So much of art is about the process of creation.  Sometimes that process goes awry and we fail. If we don’t learn to persevere through our failures then we will never move forward. This next generation feels entitled to many things, yet can’t stand the strain and hurt from failure.  In a world where our children get participation trophies and ribbons, how do we expect our children to learn the delicate art of failing?   Aren’t we just setting our children up for failure in the future if we don’t teach them to fail at an early age?

I encourage failure. Does that mean that I encourage students to fail my class?  No.  I am not discussing grades.   This is about students dealing with a project that they just can’t get to work.  That no matter how they try they will never get to look the way they want.  That in some cases will never be able to be finished.  When a project falters and students become disappointed in their abilities, they are almost crushed by the weight of failure.  One of the obstacles I have to deal with as a teacher who deals with student failure on an almost daily basis is how to motivate students to keep trying when all they really want to do is give up.  For many, this failure is a new concept. (I am talking about high school aged students who have never experienced failure or have been told that if they fail it is not their fault.)

A large part of my class is trial and error.  I fail regularly and let my students know that I fail.  I model what it looks like to fail with grace.  Students need to see that we learn from our failures.  When I don’t succeed in my art or I don’t get into a show, I share those failures with my students.  First, this lets them know that I am human.  They can see that I am hurt, but that I’m not going to let that hurt stop me from succeeding.  Second, my failure allows them to see that anyone can make mistakes or fail.  My students are always in awe of my art, which to me is humbling.  When they see me being rejected from shows or messing up a painting it shows them that anyone can fail.  I keep going.  I start the painting over or fix the mistake.  I continue to apply for shows, even though I feel like giving up!  I keep going. Many believe that teachers should appear flawless, but I don’t agree with this.  If I hope to be a good model for my students, I must accept my shortcomings.  My students still think my artwork is good and they still trust me to guide them.

Many of my students have been told they can do anything if they try hard enough or they are told that they are so wonderful they could never fail.  When they come into my class and fail for the first time it can be devastating.   I try to encourage them to keep trying and tell them that not everyone is good at everything.  No one can be.  I have my students keep portfolios.  By the end of the semester, most of them can see how their art improved from that failure.  Unfortunately, some students need instant gratification and have a hard time overcoming that defeat.  It then falls on my shoulders to become their personal cheerleader.  I have to explain that it is okay to fail and struggle with your art.  We learn from our mistakes.  We learn from our failures.  In most cases those failures make us better people.  Parents, I challenge you to teach your children the art of failure.  It will make them better people in the long run.