“Much like being a creative writing teacher who needs to find time to do their own writing, or a shoemaker who is taking care of others while our own shoes could use some attention, finding time for ourselves as artists can be difficult even when we are not lifting up other artists. Coming to terms with what we can and cannot do as artists while creating a space for other artists or other life priorities is challenging.“ – Faith Vicinanza
Why? Why not?
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children
of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”
― Helen Keller
The Joy
- Being an artist is almost like being God, at the epicenter of creation
- Providing a space for ourselves and others as artists allows us to learn from each other
- To celebrating creativity and beauty in the world through our art
- To experience a deep sense of being aligned at our core
- Provides for a sense of well-being
Studies have proven that the visual arts have a transformative effect on both our mood and our
surroundings, many showing that even the simple act of looking at art releases endorphins which
help to combat stress and pain.
The Surprises (these also count as Joyful)
Running a gallery has provided me with a sense of community, of providing for others to
a greater degree than I anticipated
I’ve had the opportunity of offer workshops in things I want to learn
- Bookmaking and book binding
- Paper making
- Collage / Vision Boards
- Tinting
- Writing through grief
- Zentangles
- Cold Wax
Or to perfect my own craft by teacher others
- Acrylic pour
- Dot Painting
- Creative writing
- Multi-medium
And I’ve met so many interesting and wonderful people, my personal life is enriched.
The Challenges
- The biggest challenge is finding time to create
- Followed by finding ways to be financially viable
- And the challenge of how often people want something from me
From The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
An artist must have downtime, time to do nothing.
Defending our right to such time takes courage, conviction, and resiliency. Such time, space, and quiet will strike our family and friends as a withdrawal from them. It is.
For an artist, withdrawal is necessary. Without it, the artist in us feels vexed, angry, out of sorts. If such deprivation continues, our artist becomes sullen, depressed, hostile. We eventually become like cornered animals, snarling at our family and friends to leave us alone and stop making unreasonable demands.
We are the ones making unreasonable demands. We expect our artist to be able to function without giving it what it needs to do so. An artist requires the upkeep of creative solitude. An artist requires the healing of time alone. Without this period of recharging, our artist becomes depleted.
FINDING TIME TO CREATE:
- I often go early to the gallery/my studio long before I open the doors to the public / alone time!!!!!
- I write or create art along with my students or as a student with a guest instructor
- I have a day job, work from home, and frequently work from the gallery so I can take short breaks
during the day and play at my art in-between business meetings or when I am not under a deadline
to deliver something, they have no idea 🙂
