The Art of Creation

I’ve spent most of my life being an aspiring artist. The word “aspiring” always seemed like a way to cushion expectations, both for myself and other people. An “aspiring artist” doesn’t have to be very good or sell very much. Aspiring artists aren’t remotely saying they think they could make a living creating.

In the last few years, though, the “aspiring” cushion stopped feeling like a way to give myself grace and started feeling more like an excuse for not making a genuine effort to own my own skills and talents. The reality is, I’ve received over 15 years of professional art instruction. I have poured myself into my art, mostly behind the scenes, but with great sincerity.

So, a year and a half ago, I made the terrifying decision to sell many of my artistic works. I had started selling handcrafted stone and crystal jewelry a little while before this, but somehow that wasn’t the same as selling my paintings. My paintings are a little piece of my spirit that I share with the world. I’m pretty sensitive about it, honestly, and the idea of getting critical feedback was too scary up until now.

Nothing really changed except this: I came to the stark realization that I only have so much time to experience this life, and I refuse to live any of it from a place of fear. So I pulled my big-girl smock on, picked a few works, and got out there.

I’ve sold prints of my paintings now, and it absolutely never ceases to boggle me. At my last show, I sold a bunch of different works, and each time it was as astonishing as the first. It’s not that I think I’m “bad.” I don’t. It’s simply hard for me to believe that I was able to create something someone else appreciates enough to literally stare at it in their home.

It’s beautiful and humbling.

For me, creation is about sharing how I view the world, and the fact that my view speaks to other people is an honor.