You wanna know something big? I’ve been an artist since birth and I think I’m just now finally owning it. Crazy! What the heck has taken me so long? What does it take for any of us to own up to truths we avoid or deny? I’ve managed to have a very successful career as a photographer and creative so luckily I’ve always been on the right path for me.
But lately there has been this rumbling and grumbling thing, quiet but forceful, going on inside me. I’ve been mentoring and teaching others how to look at themselves– to ask the question “Who Am I? What do I want?” as part of their personal career growth. Perhaps by asking them I asked myself unwittingly and suddenly there was this shift and “opening”, for lack of a better word. Last week during a meeting with a friend about my Immortalize Yourself project things suddenly became clear.
Let’s start here. Besides my photography career I’m a crafter. That just means I like to work with my hands and make things. I make scarves, clocks, jewelry, I work with fabric, I sew, I paint, draw, design, and lots more. I have for as long as I can remember tried to find ways to incorporate my imagery into functional and wearable art and sell them. There have been times I’ve wandered into the retail realm wanting to sell my crafts, functional art, design skills as a new career. But primarily it’s the imagery that has always been the thing, the core, the bottom line. I crafted simply to have a vehicle for my works. That was an actual revelation for me. I realized I wasn’t honoring my artistry in a full and meaningful way. The thing I do more than anything else, do at every opportunity and take the greatest pleasure in needs to be front and center in my world and livelihood.
I’d be delighted if you really love my work and are now or become a bonafide fan. And if you wandered here by accident that’s ok too. You’ve come at a very interesting time. I’m an artist and owning it for real for the first time in my life. My medium is photography and I love what I do more than anything else in the world. I would choose this again, unwaveringly.
I’ve been super prolific for the past couple of weeks. Partly because I have an idea and a specific goal in mind and am super excited about it– more on that later as it develops. So it’s really juiced me up and I’m in hyper drive making new work. These are two new pieces I did just this week. I’m putting myself out there and people will think what they think, and some will share the good, the bad and the ugly opinions. OK!
In the movie Amadeus the King says to Mozart that his extraordinary new musical piece has “too many notes”. And of course Mozart argues that it has just as many as he requires, no more, no less. So it is with any art, what’s done is done. The artist steps away, the piece complete. Voila. The public cheers or jeers…
So, I’m also saying that it’s ALL subjective. You don’t like herring? You don’t like Abstract? You don’t like violent films or dogs? Move on, make another choice, do what’s true for you. And don’t expect anyone else to agree. They like Herring and dogs and slasher movies. There’s always something for everyone. Don’t bother defending your work to anyone. You do what you do, why not simply honor that.
No matter what, simply have the courage of your own convictions and stand behind your own work and smile if they hate it, smile if they love it. I may have learned this long ago but even now, with a new perspective and artistic shift, I’m experiencing it anew. Interesting stuff.
Right on Sista Charr! You are such an inspiration to me. Luv ya!
Diana
As a career coach to mid- and senior-level professionals, and in my former work as a therapist, I’ve come into contact with thousands of questions, concerns, mistakes and crossroads that emerge in people’s personal and professional lives. Observing the long arc of many careers, I’ve noticed that the worst missteps – the ones that make us feel deep pain, regret, sorrow and remorse – are mistakes reflecting what people have chosen to compromise on or to give up in order to be “successful.” These compromises don’t feel like “choices” at the time, but they are, and they lead to common crises and challenges that are disastrous for the individual.