Picking up that paintbrush...

My art teacher told my mother in sixth form that I could, and I quote, 'paint a pretty picture, but had no good ideas.'

Although I loved painting and was damn well good at it thank you Mrs you-know-who-you-are, I soon quit and never really touched a brush again (well, not with any confidence anyway.)

This experience now baffles me. Who has any 'great ideas' at 16? Who was she to determine my future/potential? Who cares anyway - it's 6th form right!?

It's funny how children are encouraged to think about 'what they're 'good' at' or 'what they'll be successful doing'...or, and is often the case, 'what will earn a lot of money.'

'It's pursuing things you enjoy that make your life worth living' they should tell you.

'Who cares if your crap, you think your alright and that's OK' they should consider.

'You'll probably become an accountant anyway, but damn it'd be cool if you could paint pictures for Xmas' they should contemplate.

Because, as my guiding philosophy states: