It’s ok to dabble

Oh, that withering term, “dabble,” insinuating that a “dabbler” isn’t serious, flits about like a cabbage butterfly, and abandons things when they get difficult. It’s right up there with “dilettante,” “amateur,” and “superficial,” related, both in meaning and in sound, to “doodle,” another activity that sounds suspiciously frivolous. 

In spite of its bad reputation, dabbling is actually an important, even crucial activity. In looking at the work of several artists, I would venture that they might engage in a good bit of dabbling. The work of Picasso, for example, includes paintings, sculpture, prints, ceramics, and theater design. Picasso also had famous “periods:” Blue, Rose, Cubist, Surrealist, and Modern. It’s not too hard to imagine that some of these were the result of dabbling, or experimenting with a new practice just to see where it would lead.

Many artists don’t confine themselves to just one artistic expression. Lesley Dill incorporates language, specifically the poetry of Emily Dickinson, into her art. She works in sculpture, textiles, photographs, opera, and other forms. Mickalene Thomas works in paint, photography, sculpture, collage, video, and installation art. Experimenting, trying new things, yes, “dabbling,” is a necessary part of growing an art practice.

My chosen art is writing, but I’ve learned how to play piano and guitar, made videos, tried photography and watercolor. I’ve absorbed lessons from each of these, gaining an appreciation for the dedication of musicians and artists who devote their lives to perfecting their craft. 

These artists not only kept the inborn creativity we all possess as children, but continued to grow, change, and explore new ways to express themselves. They prove that growing up doesn’t have to mean giving up what makes us most human: our capacity to create art. 

It’s sad to think that our culture recognizes and rewards a tiny number of artists while not just ignoring, but insulting the myriad others who “dabble” in, say, pottery, quilting, or furniture-building. 

Or writing poetry.

The most amazing thing about the arts is not, in my opinion, the accomplishments of artists, astounding as they may be. I believe that the most amazing thing about the arts is their availability to anyone who wants to engage in them. From writing odes to painting water lilies to drumming to taking photos of graffiti, practicing art is open to anyone willing to try.

So I hope more people will follow their inclinations to dabble, pick up new interests, try them out and see where they lead. 

Have you dabbled in a new art form? Where did it lead? Please share in the comments!