This is a little chat about the artists journey. Not everyone needs to be an artist but I suspect so many more of us have an inner-artist we feel
shame or embarrassment around
or that we can responsibly allow out
I also suspect that part of the desire to be an artist in whatever that art form is, has to do with a feeling of being seen or understood. Whatever that feeling is, I think it is sometimes conflated with fame or success
Then there is the sense that we are only artists if it’s “good”. Who is to say what good is? We judge ourselves against what? The expression wants to come outside. So let it out. It’s not about judgement of others, it’s about doing and being. Even if you keep it fairly hidden but also publicly available on platforms where it could be found, and you continue to work on it (maybe for years), one day you will wake up and realize after reviewing all your work, you are an artist - and it feels good ;)
My personal journey has been long. i can honestly say that i’ve reached a point where i realized it wasn’t about having so many people see it (success or fame of the work) it is about allowing the work to come forward regardless. And when you see yourself, others will see you. Even if it’s only one other person. That is all the validation we really need - let everything else be bonus.
This post is inspired by a retreat yoga-student i had the pleasure to teach 5 years ago. She came back to Anamaya and we both made the time to get together and catch up a little. We both left feeling inspired. i hope this piece inspires you.
If i had submitted the below art piece to the 2024 AI art category of the High Art Gallery Contest, it would have been called, “The Cosplay of Time”. AI art category was (and it was a good call imo) limited to only 2 pieces. Prior to submission i had a small group of friends vote on which 2 out of the 3 submissions i was considering. This one did not make it. The theme this year is “Time”.
“A clock” they said, “too obvious”. Haha. Ok perfect, we’ll put it to use for this piece.
Friend and former yoga student Ali-SEE-ah, (i’m playing with her name btw), saw me. Big smile and prayer hands of gratitude emoji to that. i would say my work is done but actually i do still have to tell the other half of Raver J’s story.
Final thing. The Artist’s Journey is also a course by a lady named Nancy Hills. It’s excellent and did assist me on my journey many years ago. i can’t remember all her points but one thing that i do remember is she believed in journaling and staying consistent in creating. Here’s her website.
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Why do I use lower case i’s?
The Cosplay of Raver J