The Art of Life
Photobucket I'm so glad you're here! "The Art of Life" is where I share my journey as an artist & Momma. It's a place where I hope to encourage other women that they are artists too. In this small little space I seek to share, document, and be reminded of God's wonderful grace, all around us. ....And I would be so happy to have you journey alongside me! So grab a cup of coffee and linger for a while. I hope you leave feeling refreshed. Photobucket

Friday, June 1, 2007

Are You an Artist?



~~Several weeks ago I had to take our car to the dealership for some work. I knew that I was going to be there for quite a while. So I made plans for my MIL to watch the girls, packed my big rolling back with art supplies, and made myself comfy on the couch in the waiting room. Throughout the next two hours, different salesmen would wander over to me to see what I was doing. Invariably, I would get the same question. "Are you an artist?"
~~First off, I think it's a strange thing to ask someone who is obviously doing artwork. I mean, you don't ask a man dressed in a police uniform, "Are you a police officer?" But I do understand their question. Our society and culture has taught us to think that being an artist is some special and very rare thing. You're only an artist if you're making a lot of money and have work hanging in many galleries, right?
No?
Then why did I struggle and stumble over an answer every time? I should have proudly and confidently stated, "Yes. I'm an artist!" But instead I would mumble something like, "Well, I try to be." or "Well, I like to draw." You see, it's so easy to fall for what our culture tells us. We become afraid to say something with confidence because then we might be tested. If I say that I'm an artist, I might be judged. What if I don't live up to expectations?
~~But you know, the way our society thinks is wrong. Being an artist is a way of life, not just something that you do. I love how Ali uses the word "Life Artist." Being an artist means that you choose to live life creatively. You choose to look for inspiration. And you create. No matter what form that creation takes place in, it is still art. Whether you paint, draw, write, sing, scrapbook, collage, make beautiful soaps(that was for you Adriana!).....It doesn't matter. It can all be art if you choose to live your life as an artist.
~~Motherhood is teaching me a lot about being an artist. There are days when life is so busy that I don't have time to sit and draw. Before, that would make me feel like a failure as an artist. But now, I have come to realize that I simply need to shift my thinking. On those busy days, sometimes doing something as simple as baking a batch of cookies can be a creative endeavor. Or cutting some flowers and arranging them on my table...Or helping my little ones make playdough sculptures. Because an Artist is who I am, and that doesn't change no matter what my day is like.
~~Changing my way of thinking also allows me to get more done. I take advantage of those 30 minute segments of time to actually sit down and draw. I know that I don't have to have a beautiful perfectly organized studio to be an artist; the dining table will do. I don't have to wait for a full afternoon of time to work; even 15 minutes is great.
~~So I send this challenge to all of my friends out there. Don't let society rule your thinking. Choose to live each day creatively and proudly proclaim, "I am an artist!"
Are you with me? : )



3 comments:

Jordan McCollum said...

I loved this post--because I'm so tired of society demeaning mothers.

I'm not an artist in the drawing/sculpture/realism kind of way (do fiber arts count?), but I want mothers every where to be able to say "I AM A MOTHER" without judgment and without shame!

Kasie @ ~The Art of Life~ said...

Of course fiber arts count! And you are so right about society demeaning Mothers. That could be an entire post itself. We should proudly be able to say "Yes, I am a Mother!"
You are so right!

Anonymous said...

Love love love this post, Kasie. :) You are absolutely right about all of that. I am an artist!