Photo prompt: © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
She knew from the moment she walked in that she was way out of her league. Her virgin palette was blinding amidst the well-worn, paint-that-will-never-come-off-anymore held by others. She felt blush suffuse her face and an even deeper shame at raised eyebrows and feigned disinterest. Apparently she did not even warrant curiosity. An outsider. A wannabe.
She almost up and left.
But she’d saved for months to afford the class, and she spent her last on paints and brushes.
The need to create pulsed in her blood.
She stood her ground.
Blending in or sticking out, she’d stay. She’ll paint.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Na'ama Yehuda 
Been there. 🤪 well done.
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Good for you! 🙂 I am hopeless when it comes to drawing, but my mom paints, and so do some others in my family. Yay to doing what your heart loves!
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A journey of a thousand miles….
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Exactly! 🙂
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Good for her. I can’t draw or paint at all
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Not my forte, either …. though there are some very talented painters and artists in my family, I find that my medium is images in words, not painting or drawing or illustrating … 🙂 To each their own, eh? 🙂
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Everyone has to start somewhere. Years ago I took several art classes. An observation is that those who were the most snotty towards beginners where the ones who painted skillful but totally and completely lifeless paintings…
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Indeed, everyone had to start someplace, and one never knows what skill they might develop till they had the opportunity and space to explore and practice. I agree with you that those who often are the snottiest are those who have the least talent (and perhaps are fearful of a novice outshining them …).
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Na’ama Y’karah,
After two years at the Kansas City Art Institute it was clear my teachers and I had very different ideas of what art is. Although, in looking back, I realize how immature I was. Now instead of following the “experts” in my painting, I follow my own lead. 😉 Said all that to say, I like your MC’s attitude. She’s going to make it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think she’s gonna make it, too! And … sometimes immaturity is part of the process to maturity … just saying … 😉
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Yay! I cheered at the attitude of your protagonist! A lovely, feisty, heart-warming story, Na’ama
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Thank you, Penny! I think sometimes novices are intimidated by those more experienced, but none of us started anything with experience it in … So, it needs to be built, and acquired, and she’s up to the task! 🙂
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Good story. Confidence is always difficult for any artist, especially in a group of peers!
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Indeed! I think she may not think of herself as a peer quite yet, but I’m thinking she may well very soon be!
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Brava!!!
💕💕💕
Adele Ryan McDowell, Ph.D.
AdeleRyanMcDowell.com Adeleandthepenguin.com MakingPeacewithSuicide.com Channeledgrace.com
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Thank you, dear Adele! 🙂 XOXO
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Good for her! Who cares what others think? And who knows? Maybe she’s a whole lot better than she thinks. I’m on her side.
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You and I both! 🙂 Totally on her side! 🙂
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You got that feeling of first awkwardness when trying something new so well, Na’ama. I’m glad she worked through it.
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Thank you! Yes, she worked through it, and this is what also makes me believe she’ll do well! 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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🙂
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I’m not worried about her for one second. And how rude of those already there – as if they didn’t once have their first time!
Wonderful take.
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Eeeezatly!!
People forget that they, too, were greenhorns once and that they, too, had to start someplace. Be welcoming, not dismissive! 🙂
You got it, galfrend! 🙂 THANK YOU! 🙂
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I tells ya… Peeps have short memories sometimes, don’t they?
And MY PLEASURE! 😊
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xoxo 🙂
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😘
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I know this tale…shoot, we all do. Well done. She’ll kick butt for sure.
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Thank you! Yes, I think we all know it in one way or the other … and how we manage it says a lot about what will happen next. She will kick some behinds for sure!
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Good on her. Who are they to judge her anyway? Nice take!
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Spot on! Exactly! Yes! 🙂 Thank you!!!
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It’s hard as a beginner, surrounded by talent.
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It IS hard to be a beginner, though she may end up being the talent, surrounded by experience … 😉
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Being different from the rest is the key to success in the world of art. A good start, go, girl!
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Great point! We don’t need more cookie-cutter-facsimiles (well, unless it is cookies … and even then I like the odd one out, with the stick-out burnt end, or oddly squiggled edges … ;)) She’ll do well indeed! 🙂
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Cookies with character!
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🙂 Yep.
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A framed print on my wall says, “What will people say?” — ‘This sentence has killed more dreams than anything else in the world.’ I could go on. But yea for her and those like ‘er. OK, one more, “Have the courage to suck at something new.” Inspirational story. Well done, Na’ama.
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Yeah! I agree – we should be FAR less concerned about what people would say and a LOT more concerned at whether our actions are kind, whether our souls are content, and whether our deeds are good. Trying new things is fab! 🙂
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that’s the spirit. 🙂
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🙂 Yep!
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Good for her! Everyone has to start somewhere!
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Exactly, Linda! And I think she’s realized it and will forge ahead! 🙂
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Oh that rang a thousand bells with me. But you have to start somewhere.
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Indeed one has to, Sandra, no matter what the new skill is. 🙂 And … it is okay to be a beginner. I’m not sure why so many expect proficiency at first sight, when we all know nothing in life is like that! 🙂
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Simple tale, but true.
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Thanks, Trish. I bet we were all that beginner painter in some reincarnation at some point, and had to make a decision – muster our courage and stay anyway, or curl out tail and leave because we felt intimidated.
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Following her dreams, good for her!
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Yes! Always a good thing to not be intimidated even if one is a beginner – we all begin SOMEPLACE!
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Good for her, she’s as much right as anyone to be there
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Exactly, Michael! And no one knows what talents she may develop. 🙂
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Good for her! I am glad she managed to overcome the impostor syndrome, or just her extreme shyness.
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Either one, she seems to be on the right path! 😁
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