Following Your Own Path

Road Less Traveled 9x12 oil $400

One of the most wondrous things about being human is our individual uniqueness. We feel it as children and rejoice in it. Adolescence, with the angst of belonging and fear of isolation, erodes and challenges it. Adulthood provides experience and perspective to help us recover and feel safe to be ourselves. Every endeavor gives each of us an opportunity to conform to group pressure/groupthink or to listen, observe, be curious, and find our own perspective. I appreciate those people I've met who seem to hold their own counsel and are able to communicate without coercing or dominating. 

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Afternoon Glow 11x14 oil

​Finding my path as an artist is an unanticipated piece of the big picture. I thought I would just be learning to paint, but gradually realized each step of that process was a part of a path I was on. Sometimes the path is delightful, like when I've had a good day painting and feel the goodness in the work. Sometimes the path is disappointing, like getting a "not accepted" notice for a show. Sometimes the path is just plain hard, like when I have to consciously concentrate on applying new skills to my work. ​

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I am learning to be aware of those feelings that come up and be curious about what they can teach me: am I being overly sensitive? do I need to rethink my motives? why does this trigger happy/sad/frustration?  This kind of self reflection helps to distill the reasons and goals in my mind and heart and during that process I seem to find a subtle sense of direction. My faith that God is directing my steps brings peace and perseverance, showing me there is meaning and purpose in what I am doing. The artists in our world don't create just to fill their own closets with paintings, quilts, poems, screenplays; they create to communicate what they see and feel to the rest of the human family. So each artist, and truly, each one of us, needs to seek and follow our own path in our art and in our life.

Ancient Olive 9x12 oil private collection