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Life is Like an Eraserless Pencil

By
Home Stager with GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography

Award of MeritI just returned from an all too quick trip to Los Angeles/Anaheim with my oldest daughter. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate her 18th birthday than to have some Mother-Daughter time in the happiest place on earth! Despite complaints about the "cool weather" from the locals, we had an awesome time! (And a nice diversion from some real winter weather!)

Having spent a year as a family in the Pasadena area, both myself and Favorite Daughter #1, looked forward to re-visiting all of our beloved Disney attractions. It was a blessing in disguise that Monday's rain had prevented us from enjoying some of the things we looked forward to . . . and instead, required us to have a different Disney experience.

We ended up in the Animation Studio, and much to our surprise, went back again and again to draw some of the classic Disney characters.

It was quickly pointed out to us that our pencils had no erasers.

Deena's TiggerThis is because sketch artists need to learn to work quickly and in broad, sweeping motions, we were told. It is more about concept, they said. When the picture starts to emerge near the end of the sketching process, that is when you can go back and darken in the lines that you want to keep. All the construction lines then fade into the background.

Well, we diligently followed their steps, making circles with our whole arms hovering above the paper, feeling a little shy to put that first mark on the still perfectly clean sheet. But once we committed to the activity, we got lost in the "creative" process. And true to the Disney artist's promise, we eventually did find lines worth keeping, producing some decent renderings of those cute Disney characters. We were hooked!

In reflecting on our day, we both had the same thoughts . . . sketching is a lot like life. You have a pencil, but no eraser. Every mark you make on that bright, white sheet of life, is recorded. Some marks will turn out to be winners; others, look as wrong as they felt when the pencil hit the paper. But the more you try to "fix" that wrong turn of the pencil, the bigger mess you make. You can try to rub it out, but all you get is a great big black smudge that becomes even more noticeable.

We discovered the best way to handle those errant pencil lines, was to just keep going to find a better path.

Janna's PlutoAnd so it is with life . . . the more we try to hide our mistakes and keep others from seeing them, often the bigger mess we make.

Instead, be open to the possibility that the "mistakes" you made can actually help you know where to put the pencil the next time. Those less than perfect lines are meant to be a teacher and a guide.

Only then, can you darken in the lines that do work and make those shine above the rest. Those are the lines that others will see first, and for which you will be remembered.

Express your regret, and move on. The people in our lives will allow us the grace to be ourselves and make a few mistakes along the way when we also continue on a better path. Just darken in the lines that work with them to create a surprisingly beautiful rendering in spite of it all!

It is when we are too afraid to make any marks at all that we truly deprive ourselves and others of all that we have to offer. Our "tools" . . . gifts . . . were meant to be used. Practice may not make for "perfection", but it sure does help us get better!At Disney Animation Studio

 

Posted by

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta

©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.

Comments (12)

David Monsour
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA
ABR - www.realty-insights.com

I visiting disney with my girls soccer team about 2 years ago.  I didn't find any places like this, but I really enjoyed all the shows.  That looks like a really great thing to do with your daughter/son.  It's a pretty fun place, but awfully expensive.  I spent most of my time laying by the pool doing nothing. 

Dec 10, 2009 06:39 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Deena,  Wow, what a terrific post ! "It is when we are too afraid to make any marks at all that we truly deprive ourselves..."  pretty much says it all. 

Dec 10, 2009 06:41 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Deena:  Great post, glad you took your daughter and gave her some of life's valuable lessons.  I liked the 'just keep going to find a different path'.  How true.

Dec 10, 2009 06:42 AM
Douglas Fischer
East Oahu Realty - Selling Honolulu, Hawaii Condos - Honolulu, HI

I too sketch....and paint.....and love your comparison of sketching to life.  Sometimes I feel like I'm having a creative block, only to realize that it is simply my fear of making a mistake.

Dec 10, 2009 06:49 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Hi All! Thanks for visiting.

David - I agree. Disney does seem more expensive than it used to . . . it's just so darn hard to resist!

Bill - I know, right?? I'm there all the time.

Lyn - she's a deep thinker, and even better at "getting" the application of it!

Douglas - I love what you said! I believe that is so true--"creative blocks" are likely just our own fears!

Dec 10, 2009 06:55 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Deena- What a wonderful story.  First, so glad you had a "magical" time at Disney with your daughter.    You need to expand this story and submit it to  one of those "Chicken Soup for the ?" books. 

Dec 10, 2009 07:07 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Hi Kathy. You're too kind! Thanks for your continued visits!

Dec 10, 2009 07:19 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Deena, This is a great photo story of your Disney experience. There is also a wonderful life messgae and BTW, these sketches are wonderful and really should have been your lead photo. Excellent work.

I am also delighted to tell you that you are receiving our groups Award of Merit. Congratulations. Please follow the instructions here for inserting your award ribbon in the post itself.

 

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ActiveRain PhotoBlogger Group Award

Dec 11, 2009 07:46 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Thank you very much, William! I am again honored to receive this award . . . and also that you enjoyed my thoughts on the experience.

I've also taken your advice and moved the images around. Thanks!

Dec 12, 2009 02:32 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

ANOTHER lesson we have been taught here in the Rain.  You, Denna are an awesome contributor! Your positiveness shows in every post, for in them you find solutions and share them!  Appreciate you!

Dec 13, 2009 11:17 AM
Randy DeLaMare
Realtypath LLC - Salt Lake City, UT
Helping friends Realize their Real Estate Dreams

Love the post! I just found this group and I am excited to be part of it. I never knew there was a place like that at Disneyland. We will have to check it out on our next trip there allthough I might be afraid to make lines.

Dec 16, 2009 09:09 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Thanks so much, Diane. That's a real compliment, especially from someone as awesome as you!

Glad you stopped by, Randy. It's in California Adventure, in the Hollywood area. Totally worth the visit! You'll spend hours in there.

Dec 16, 2009 10:58 AM