A Leaf on Art

Write one leaf about going in the wrong direction.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an author and illustrator. Eric Carle was my biggest hero. I thought he was magic, the way he worked paint and color to make animals come to life on a page. I took so many art classes to refine my technique, hoping to somehow become that creative. I thought that art was a skill that could be learned, honed and stowed away.

I was so wrong. Eric Carle is magic. But it's not because he understands texture or draws beautifully symmetric butterflies. His magic comes from the way he taps into the minds of children. He knows kids, knows how to inspire them. He doesn't just create a picture, he creates wonder... or rather he finds wonder and then translates it into a format for others to experience it.

Being an artist has nothing to do with being good at drawing. To be an artist is to wonder. And being an artist is just one way to live a life of wonder.