Drawing & Talking

I Can't Draw

2012-02-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

That's the #1 comment that adults say to me.

"I can't draw."

I draw and talk to audiences of all ages - adults and children - and it amazes me what adults tell me they can't do.

They watch me draw, and the first thing they say is, "I can't draw."

I've never heard a child say that to me. Children watch me draw and say, "I can do that." Or "I want to do that."

Children have an unlimited number of things they believe they can do.

Adults have an unlimited number of things they believe they CAN'T do.

"I can't do this, I can't do that." Adults say this every day, and they create their own limits.

What limits do you create?
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Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your venue or event.
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com

Drawing Outside The Lines

2012-01-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

What does that mean?

"Drawing outside the lines" means taking risks and pushing boundaries. Your boundaries and other people's.

It's also the title of a talk I give to adults and teens about pushing yourself out of the comfortable, the familiar, the expected.

I talk about my experiences as a commercial artist, cartoonist, illustrator, performer and speaker. I ask the audience questions just like I ask myself questions.

Am I moving in the right direction? When do I stop? Should I play it safe or take a chance?

"Drawing outside the lines" means asking questions.

When do you draw outside the lines?
____________________________________________
Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your venue or event...
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com

Giving Your Talent

2012-01-16T18:12:00.000-08:00

Facing your talent means recognizing it, looking at it, and putting a face on it. Your face.

When you see yourself actually using your talent, you don't just have a talent. You bring it, you share it, you give it to other people.

When I draw great big faces, I give away the drawings to people in the audience. That's my way of giving my talent.

Artists give drawings. Musicians give songs. Writers give stories.

Facing your talent means giving your talent.

What can you give?
____________________________________________
Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your venue or event...
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com

How to Discover

2012-01-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

Last week I met some talented young adults who attended my "How to draw Great Big Faces" workshop at the Elmhurst Library in Elmhurst, Illinois.

I drew 2 brave volunteers, and showed the students how I draw the human face. Then everyone drew a great big face at the same time, and we displayed the drawings so everyone could see them.

Drawing is a skill that requires a lifetime of practice and learning. Teaching someone how to draw a human face in one workshop is almost impossible.

What is possible is showing someone how to discover their talent and ability to do something they didn't think they could do.

What is your undiscovered talent?

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Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your library or school...
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com

Einstein

2012-01-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Albert Einstein was not just another pretty face.

Einstein was a scientist and writer who used his talent, imagination and theories to change the world. He also possessed one of the most iconic faces in human history.

His wild hair, furrowed brow, bulbous nose and uncombed moustache are the visual stereotype of the nutty professor, the mad scientist, the rumpled genius.

I love drawing Einstein because he is so recognizable and so popular. But it does not require a lot of talent to draw Einstein's face.

It does require talent - and imagination, and vision - to change the world.

How can your talent change the world?

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Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your venue or event...
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com

Dr. Seuss

2011-12-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

Theodor Seuss Geisel - also known as Dr. Seuss - was a multi-talented cartoonist, commercial artist, illustrator, author, poet, speaker and creator of the most memorable characters in literature.

The Grinch. Horton.
Sam I Am. The Lorax.
Gerald McGrew. And my favorite, The Cat in the Hat.

I've drawn The Cat in the Hat at libraries, schools, festivals, colleges and special events across the country. I've talked about Dr. Seuss, his books, imagination and talent to audiences of all ages.

Wherever I go, The Cat in the Hat always gets the biggest smiles.
Whoever I meet, they always have a favorite character by Dr. Seuss.

He was a man of many talents. What is yours?

____________________________________________
Invite artist & speaker Paul Merklein to your library or school...
Call 414-232-1391 or send an email to paul@greatbigfaces.com