What Does Sport Share With Art

“What Does Sport Share With Art?”

By Michael Dale

At first glance you could be thinking… “Sport has very little to do with Art”

Okay, a professional sportsman might not be good at drawing. There is every chance that the top sportswomen are terrible painters.

The similarity between artists and athletes is that they each know how to use their bodies and minds to do amazing things…

“Although you may never be a master artist you can be the master of your own art”

The similarity between an artist and a sports person is their ambition to be the best, often against the odds. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert… you work hard at improving yourself.

Athletes work hard preparing to be at their peak…

A modern sportsman gets to know his body and builds muscle strength to make certain that he will perform to the maximum
A sportswoman will spend every waking hour to develop the skills necessary to outperform her rivals.

Meanwhile, an artist quietly practices drawing and painting skills trying to reconstruct stories of real life and personal experience.

Yet, there is more…

The greatest advantage a winning athlete has is something that goes far beyond body strength, talent and skill. The key to winning against other top athletes is in their mind. This is what you share with sportsmen and sportswomen…

"With your knowledge and skill, you are determined to create winning artwork"

Now, imagine you are a sprinter getting into the starting blocks…

You are focused on the finish line
You have rehearsed the win in your mind so often
You feel the relief of finishing first
You also feel the release of years of struggle and recovery from the pain of injury

At the finish, you already know the sense of climax you will feel…

You can hear the applause
You can feel the crushing hugs of congratulation from team mates and supporters
You know what success will bring… worldwide fame, admiration and attention

And then, just before the starting gun fires…

There is silence. You are ready… You are in the zone…

You are totally focused
You cannot be distracted by anything other than the starting gun

Then the gun fires…

“Only when the finish line is broken is your destiny sealed”

This is what it is like when you create a work of Art. You lose yourself in your artwork… you enter another world.

As an artist, you are lucky. You don’t have to be in peak physical condition. You could be standing quietly at your easel painting, ready to place the next brush load of oil color onto canvas. You might be relaxing in an armchair with your drawing board resting on your lap, gently working your outline sketch into a finished drawing.

What you share with an athlete is Dedication, Focus and Determination to FINISH…

“Your mind is set on achieving your goal… Like the greatest of athletes you want to be the best”

Unlike top sports players, you have another advantage. As an artist you don’t have to win to achieve. All you have to do is keep your standards high and create your best artwork with your pencil, charcoal, pastel, crayon, brush and paints.

Like a top athlete wanting to be the best, you work hard improving your Art. You work at your artistic success with…

Regular drawing and painting practice
Study of artwork from artists you admire
Lessons from artists whose skill and knowledge you want to learn

You take advantage of knowledge and advice from art loving friends and Art experts…

It is possible, like most athletes, that you will never be first but it doesn’t stop you being great with the art you do. Picasso didn’t worry about whether his Cubism paintings were good enough. He carried on painting and made the art world take notice. He painted all his life…

“Don’t you want to create Art for the rest of your life?”

Have confidence in your ability and in your art… “Be focused and make yourself a great artist”

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Go to http://www.paint-and-draw.com/ to find out more.

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