Who you think you are colors every other thought you allow in to your consciousness, which in turn influences every action and reaction that you take in your life.
You can see why it might be important to get really clear on who you really think you are.
Do you think you’re an artist? Are you being an artist or are you spending all your time doing something else because being an artist requires (fill in the blank) and you just can’t do it, don’t have it, whatever.
Really, whatever. Because if your soul yearns to be an artist, or a writer, or a dancer, or the CEO of your own company (and what artist isn’t the CEO, the CFO and everything else?), then that’s your clue to what you came here to be this time.
I will Not Hate 16 x 18 acrylic on canvas by Tammy Vitale $497
Take a look at how you spend your time. How many of the hours each day do you spend on what your heart yearns for?
Have kids? Make art with them. Go draw in the sand. Take them to see outdoor sculpture they can climb on. Take air dry clay with you and sculpt while they climb.
Have a day job? Pack your lunch and go sketch in the park.
Don’t tell me you can’t. Tell me instead that you won’t. Because that’s what you really mean.
The pictures are from my work yesterday painting Solomons Island (MD) en plein air. Which simply means outdoors. And usually also means what you see in front of you. Very impressionistic, full of light. Well, this is what I saw in front of me – this picture named herself. And she’s probably a bit unusual for en plein air but this is who I think I am: Someone who intends to live her one wylde and precious life on her own terms.
No, I didn’t get here over night, and I’m probably still not “here.” But the reason my Thursday blog is coming out on Friday is because on Thursday it was time to paint. That’s two rules broken: my own that blogs come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And some nebulous rule that I picked up somewhere that says never apologize for when and how you write your blog. Just write it.
I will not Hate detail
So if in fact the person you’re yearning to be happens to be an artist and you believe that isn’t possible, take one step toward your dream: learn how to Sell Your Art, Keep Your Soul. Come on, I’ll hold your hand. You’ll be glad you did.
Here’s me being interviewed, talking about this upcoming class. Only 20 slots total. And I’m not breaking that rule because I want you to get the time you need to get what you want.
And, by the way, being an artist is only hard because of the stories we tell ourselves about being an artist. And it must be cultural because there are a lot of artists out there who want to be full-time artists but aren’t. Get my free report out: Artists’ Survey: The Business of Art here. Find out you’re in good company.
So let’s start a revolution: let’s make following our heart (and not the almighty dollar sign) our mantra. Scale your life down to where art can take its righful place and a part-time job can handle what it doesn’t cover. Because if you spend as much time making art and supporting your art business as you do lamenting why you can’t, you just might be surprised at the outcome.
Wylde Women’s Wisdom:
If you stopped trying to walk because you fell down the first time (and the 2nd and so on), you’d still be on your hand and knees. Why is it you can’t be an artist because you tried one show and hardly sold anything? Tammy Vitale
[…] Hamster), which is always chattering at you about how “you can’t do that,” “who do you think you are,” and other lovely soul withering comments, is actually our friend. And the funny thing is […]
[…] stickier, more emotional, more stories, more hopes, more fears. More demons whispering: “Who do you think you are?” You do not have to answer the demons. Getting in an argument about who and ego and […]
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[…] Hamster), which is always chattering at you about how “you can’t do that,” “who do you think you are,” and other lovely soul withering comments, is actually our friend. And the funny thing is […]
[…] stickier, more emotional, more stories, more hopes, more fears. More demons whispering: “Who do you think you are?” You do not have to answer the demons. Getting in an argument about who and ego and […]
[…] The REAL “Secret” – you are responsible for your own life. s/he/they don’t live in your shoes. What they think doesn’t matter. Really. It’s what you think that matters. […]
Hey, I’ve joined the revolution, sister revolutionist!
I am following my heart and really watching the stories I tell myself and others.
And I agree that CAN”T is a word we should strike from our vocabularies.