Because if they’ve done art at school they are rarely taught the fundamentals beyond very basic colour theory. I tell them it’s like learning a language or music, get atelier lessons and practice, or books and study them, absolutely anyone can do representational art if that’s what they want to spend time on!
Discussion
Yes indeed but thinking more about the general population. Mum’s a really good artist but now has dementia. We while away our time together with drawing and painting and all the other residents at the memory support unit look on enviously. Mum tries to sling them a pencil and paper but they back away in alarm. They “can’t do that “ 🤷🏻♀️ 
I wonder if that’s them worried about facing deficits (or risking the discovery of new deficits). Our recreational officer usually has great engagement with art and art therapy sessions, but I don’t know what approach she uses
They have a Montessori program. It’s a very happy place I must say with a lovely little garden and music. Anyhoo. Always been a maker and makers gotta make. This observation about people feeling “locked out” is lifelong. Sometimes people who are professional arts workers want you to stop like there’s a license. It’s widespread enough in the general population that I wonder about evolutionary burden. Mum snickers about it. Her family definitely occupy the “rundown cottage in the woods outside of the village, big herb garden, strange cat” branch of the tree.😂