This is a lifestyle change. I am not taking a year off from working in the public schools just to make some pretty art and a little bit of money. I want to become an authentic artist that has meaning behind my work. In college, I was a technical artist. I built a table and toys with wood. It was easy for me to just saw and measure and glue and sand. I felt good abut my work but it was not super meaningful. I made something up for my artist statement in my senior art show. I wasn't ready back then to dive deep. I didn't know myself well enough at age 20.
Now I have sketch books full of ideas from my travels, a collection of stories boxed away in my memory, and inspiration from many life experiences. Yet, I am still hesitating to really get to work. I am having a hard time figuring out where to even begin. Luckily, I have some people looking out for me.
My sister sent me an invite to a 30-day artist's challenge from ArtSquare Academy and I accepted. Today is day one. I thought that we would just get our sketch books out and start drawing and making, but it looks like we aren't messing around. Here are just a few of the questions that have been posed to me to kick start these 30 days.
What issues do you care about?
What do you want your relationships to look and feel like?
What legacy would you like to leave behind?
The questions are written down. They are each scribbled on one single page of my composition book. I left a whole page for each one because I know that I have that much to say. But I need to document my hesitation before answering them. I'm scared and overwhelmed.
This journey is going to take courage and staying power. It is way easier to get my art supplies out and create a simple step-by-step lesson plan. There is no easy recipe here with a final outcome. I am coming into this process without any preconceived ideas about what might take shape. I don't know what materials I want to use or what images I want to put out into the world.
Ok, time to jump in. I'll be swimming in my composition book for a few hours if you need me.