studio friday.

The kids over at Studio Friday have an appropriate topic for today, Friday October 13th. FEAR! It was suggested by Casey and she said:

"I have been away from Studio Friday for a while, and I really struggled with the toot your own horn topic.  It actually made me do some free-writing and I thought of another topic that might be helpful for some of the studio friday artists: Fear.

Hmm. Interesting topic for me. As an artist, what do I fear?

At first I thought, I'm afraid of nothing! I am experimenting! I am playing! I am actively discovering what I can do! And that's when I  s l o w l y  realized what I fear.

When I began looking through scrapbooking and stamping magazines, Somerset Studios, etc. several years ago, I really felt like I wouldn't ever be able to create anything new. I felt like it has all been done before. I was too late. All my favorite color combos were already being used. LOs were already saturated with my favorite embellishments. I felt like I was too late to the party. :-)

And then I found a quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This amazing, powerful quote put me in my place and REASSURED me that whatever I create, it WILL be new. It may have elements used by other artist or be influenced by other artists but...whatever I create, can trust that as longs as it's from my heart and hands, it will be original. And that's because it will be my original. Here's the quote:

"Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another."

No one else has will EVER have the same unique blend of skills, knowledge, love, passion, dislikes, fears, family, childhood, etc. that I have. Therefore, no one else will ever be the same kind of artist I am.

So having said all that, I know my fear is that I won't ever realize my potential! That I won't ever figure it out! Will I ever find my authentic style? Find myself? Find what I'm "good" at?!

I do, fortunately, recognize that I am on the right path. I know this to be my truth because I am SO happy! Sure there are bumps. Sometimes I have to go slow. There are times when I feel like I'm going too fast! And then there are the times when I come to a complete stop! ! But Oh Lordy! when I come over the horizon and see somewhere I haven't been before? I am filled with pure joy and my heart and hands can't help but smile!

I'm not always sure which way to turn, which tool to use, which song to listen to, what color to use, etc., but I know that as long as I trust my heart and stay on this path, I'll get somewhere!

Thanks for being here with me!

Comments

[Lilli]

Good attitude, Girl!

[Gabi]

How refreshing to see there's another person out there who's SO HAPPY just like me! I am so happy and content with my life that it's just an overwhelming feeling of joy sometimes! I am lucky to have my own studio, loving family and security for the future. Life is good, though there are little things here and there that are fearful but as I face them, head on, I learn more and more about myself ! I'm HAVIN' FUN!
have a fearless weekend!
~Gabi

[Sharon @ Norah'S]

You said it all so good. My fear it that I'm running out of time before I get to be a real artist. But I am happy with all I do and have now.
Sharon

[tine]

Oh Michelle you expressed this so beautifully! How magnificent to hear about your artistic journey! So very illuminating!!

[Jana]

I understand your previous fear of whether something you make will be "original" and love how you conquered your fear! As I do landscapes I realize there are trillions of landscape painters out there---how can I be any different? But then I know, like you said, it's different because I did it---and all that make me me is what makes it unique. (it's quite obvious when several of us are working on the same scene and when we take our lunch break to admire each others paintings it's amazing how differently we've interpreted the same images!)

Keep playing and you'll discover your artistic love---you have so much talent and enthusiasm!

[renee]

A-maze...ZING!!! (ly) stated!