September 5, 2017
Martin Wang: Learning Patience through Art
Why did Martin’s mom say “some art schools, I wouldn’t go, even if you paid me!”
Martin’s first drawing
When Martin first started at US Fine Art, he wasn’t even really three yet. Never mind him sitting down and patiently drawing something, he didn’t even understand the concept of coming to class. For a child like this, it was even more important to have a loving, patient, responsible and experienced teacher. At the beginning, Martin’s mother was very indecisive; she was surround by friends who had kids of a similar age but their drawings were already very “pretty” looking, and some had even won awards! Comparing herself to her friends, Martin’s mom became very conflicted. For example, look at this piece:
Compare this very pretty look piece with a piece that your child drew on their own, that may not be so aesthetically pleasing, which would you choose? But when Martin’s mother looked at the growth stories of some of the other kids that had grown up at US Fine Art and compared it to kids from other schools, she decided that even if they were to pay her, there was no way she would go to a school where kids went home with “pretty” looking pictures but grew up with no skills or creativity of their own.
Building a Solid Foundation is More Important than an Immediately Pretty Drawing
“Just because it looks good, doesn’t mean it is good!” If pieces are always winning awards, but aren’t an honest reflection of a child’s skill, then isn’t my child just there to help the school advertise? Because of this, Martin’s mom chose the school that would give her child a proper artistic foundation; she believed that it was much more important for her son to build a solid foundation than it is to bring home a pretty looking drawing.
No matter what Martin brings home these days, his parents don’t fret over it; they have completely confidence in the CTA curriculum and the teachers at US Fine Art to guide Martin, building on his skills little by little, guiding him to be a more discipline child, more focused and patient in his work. The Martin these days is no longer the little boy that couldn’t sit still, instead he is a little artist that puts his thoughts onto paper, creating his own stories with art, still growing, still improving.
Looking at this colorful piece he completed with dotting technique,
or this other piece of a cobra with hypnotizing eyes, ready to strike at any time.
Let’s also look at this super hero, and the backdrop building he’s drawn in contrast to it. It’s a truly shocking rate of improvement.