Tuesday, October 19, 2010

And Now For Something DIFFERENT!

(created for the first week of Art, Heart & Healing)

One of my biggest issues with my art is justifying it. By that I mean I get so caught up in my wife and mother and graphic artist roles that I find it hard to spend the time (and money) necessary to make art. I feel guilty purchasing supplies for something that may never see the light of day. And on the weekend when the hubster's working in the yard and the kids are playing, it's difficult to close myself off in here when I should be doing something more important.

Consequently, when I do give myself permission to create, it has to be for something specific (i.e. a painting for the bathroom or a gift or a christmas card) and it has to be perfect.

That's a lot of pressure to heap on myself.

The sketchbooks have helped, but this is still something I struggle with on an almost daily basis.

So this spread is about having the courage ... strength ... guts ... whatever to let myself (yep, that's me apparently channeling Anne Hathaway) be creative without the guilt.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Karen,

    Although I am not yet a mother or a wife, I too have tons going on in my life right now as well....just in a different way. I also have found perfection to be the number one killer of my art. I took carla sonheims workshop last month and it was awesome. It kinda took away that need for perfection. It showed me that there is beauty in mistakes too. I just recently found willowing videos on youtube. Love her. Remember create the art for urself, just because. You dont have to have a reason. There is no such thing as perfect. What one person sees as perfect the next may see something with flaws. Express yourself and love every moment of it.

    And by the way I love your blog......especially hearing about the punks

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  2. This is wonderful!

    Just know that you need to refuel your own soul to be the best you can be in all those other areas. And then you are teaching your kids not to feel guilty about doing what they love, too. ;)

    I wish I had done more of it all those years, not let myself feel guilty about it, and not worried whether it was "for" some reason or whether it was profitable. To simply joyfully create for the sake of creating!

    Color outside the lines!!

    Follow Your Bliss!! :)

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  3. msjajones ... thank you! i struggled with the same issues before being a wife and mother — started around college and got worse once I started working in advertising. it's great that you recognize the issue and are working to overcome it! took me way to long to figure out how important creating is to my sanity.

    rita ... i'm learning to take time for myself and figuring out that i need more than a half-hour in the tub with bubbles and a glass of wine. LOL
    thanks for the kind words of advice.

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  4. I like your art and your blog a lot. I will come and visit you more often. You are inspiring!

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XOXO
Karen