Daddy's Christmas Angel

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Creativity is Contagious. Pass it On. Albert Einstein

Gloucester Art Center Mixed Media Workshop ©Dick Welton
Albert Einstein was truly a genius. He believed that imagination is more important than knowledge and he believed in the importance of creativity. He said, "Creativity is Contagious. Pass it on." I love that quote.

A few years ago, I met Mary Ann Beckwith and heard her tell about a friend who had worked hard and finally discovered the art-making method she'd been seeking over the years. Instead of keeping what she learned to herself, the artist shared her discovery with anyone who would listen and watch.

"If you don't teach it, it can't go on," Beckwith said. "Don't hesitate to share your knowledge. Teach anyone you can anything you know."

What extraordinary words of wisdom. Because of her creative and sharing spirit, I loved every moment of Beckwith's classes. I wish she lived nearby instead of in the far north of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

It was with Beckwith that I took a journey into experimental mixed media art. I learned new and exciting techniques that I continue to explore and expand inside my own studio. Many of the things I learned from her and from other artists since then, I am including in the workshops I'm teaching now. My next workshop will be in Williamsburg next week at This Century Art Gallery in the Education Center. The class is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

What a wonderful contagion to have--creativity. How exciting to have the opportunity to pass it on!

Please visit my web site to see some of my paintings using experimental water media.

4 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Obviously her teachings worked since you are now the teacher and passing it on.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Teach anything you know. I'm trying to do just that!

Mary Ann sounds like a wonderful person to learn from.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Yes, Alex. I would like to be even a little bit as good as she is.

Diane, I bet your classes are wonderfully vivacious! Mary Ann is remarkable.

Elizabeth Sara said...

I like the that idea.