2/28/2026 Creation Batch & Essay
- Zach E Bear
- Feb 28
- 2 min read
Artists should strive to create like a child.
Children typically begin drawing with an extremely high, unwarranted level of confidence. This is a beautiful thing because they don't hesitate and they don't second-guess themselves. If the parents or teachers are worth anything, they will foster and encourage this method, like my mom did.
The first drawing I ever did was of a dinosaur on orange construction paper. I took a black washable marker and drew an oval for the body, the head, the hands, and the feet. Then I added little triangles onto the hand and feet shapes to show claws, and more along the body for spikes on the back. I added another shape for the snout and gave it triangle teeth.
I drew a line for the ground and two dinosaur eggs. I colored everything in with a green crayon (mixed media is so common as a child!) and then I was done. There was no hesitation in any of these choices, and when I finished, my mom said she loved it and stuck it on the fridge.
I remember the certainty I moved with and how proud I was of the outcome. That feeling is what I seek now in my public works.
As I grew, the confidence didn’t disappear, but discipline and influence entered the room. When I sketch and practice, I'm reserved and critical of myself, which is necessary. Every artist worth a damn is aware of nature's rules and, at some point, should have followed them to a T. But nature’s rules are training wheels. They are meant to be mastered, not worshipped. When you've shown you understand them, it’s time to move on and let the elements of art guide your hand. If people want a realistic tree or portrait, they can take a picture.
I train my subconscious by studying anatomy, perspective, proportion, and value through nature. I’ve drawn thousands of bodies in my sketchbooks and scrap paper with graphite; I took the time to make sure they were correct then, so why should this time be any different? When inspiration strikes, there is no time and no need to calculate. I can zone out and let emotion take over.
When I put paint on canvas or paper, I return to the child.
