When I started sharing my work it was with a reckless abandon and excitement. I was screaming over social media, "Hey, look what I made! I'll be right back, I'm going to make some more!!" At some point my feeds became more curated. More a reflection of what the people following responded to. It turned into a marketing tool rather than a journal of my journey. This realization came to me when a friend challenged me to share my art for 7 days on facebook. I started to wonder what I would post, what would people want to see, and how I could vary it enough to show all the work I do. Happily a little voice in my head spoke up, "Really?!?! Get over yourself!" There is a fearlessness that I forgot somewhere along the way. And I was missing the point. Some of the works that I hid away for months were the first to sell when I showed them. My work has to simply be to create art. Some people will love it and others will think it mundane. The vulnerability of showing all my work is part of the strength of being an artist. It is out there for criticism but good or bad it is a part of who I am at that moment. My goal, when I started painting again was to "Be more Creative and Put it out There." Judgemements aside, I am compelled to create things and if I am moved by a work, then my job is to show it far and wide enough for the right eyes to see it. And then go make some more.
Since this is a good time to realign with our goals, I will get back to that simple intention. To go into the studio without expectations or intentions, to show up and do the work, and then show it off. How are you challenging yourself creatively this year? Margaret |
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November 2019
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