“Stay inside the lines.”

As I teach children how to draw, it has been so hard for me to say those words, “stay inside the lines.”  I remember staying inside the lines when I was little… or was that when I was coloring the other night… anyways…  It was a real challenge.  I also remember not understanding why it was so hard for some people to just try to stay inside the lines.   

The usual response, whether said or simply thought, is “why?” or “I don’t want to.” Children know what they want to do; they just don’t realize it until they see the finished drawing. 

The time they spent focusing on staying inside the lines, whether it’s coloring or just following direction, helped them think outside the lines without realizing it.

If everyone stayed “inside the lines,” would all the drawings look the same?

If you’ve ever said or thought, “I can’t” draw because “I don’t have the talent” or “I’m not creative,” I challenge you… “Stay inside the lines.”