Authoring Your Art

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF “HOLDING ONTO YOURSELF” AS AN ARTIST

 

Years ago, an artist in our Masterclass, K, shared a story of creating a series of paintings she loved, paintings exploring gestural self-expression through her own lexicon of mark making.

She was exhilarated because the paintings felt so personal, so alive. She said, “They feel like me.”

One day, an artist in her community saw her wondrous paintings and frowninv, asked, “Why did you add scribbles to your paintings?”

It seemed to K that her scribbles bothered the inquiring artist.

K’s response: “Because I like it. It creates interest.”

Pretty soon, our fabulous K was asked by her gallerist to remove some smudges in her works.

K responded, “No, I’m not going to do that. I like the smudges. They’re there for a reason.” 

 

The important concept of authorship 

 

As an artist and creator, it’s important to remember that you are the author, the artist, the composer of your work.

 

Not the collector.

 

Not your best friend. 

 

Not the gallerist.

 

Not other artists.

 

This is not about pleasing others.

 

This is not painting by committee.

 

This is about your own expression in your art.

 

We want to see you in your art, not someone else’s idea of what you should or shouldn’t do or be 

 

At times you may feel lonely and lost because there are no absolute answers on your journey to expressing yourself.

 

There’s no map, formula or recipe for creating your deepest and most authentic art.

 

Indeed, you’re stepping into the terra incognito, the unknown territory, every time you create.

 

And this is scary. This is threatening. This is vulnerable.

 

But don’t look for answers outside of yourself. You won’t find them there. 

 

Look Inside

 

The answers that are your answers can only be found inside you.

 

Keep searching as you paint.

 

Keep exploring and experimenting and playing.

 

Allow space for “ugly” paintings. In fact, embrace ugly paintings.

 

In the end this is about holding onto yourself in your art

 

It’s about digging deep and finding You.

 

Your work isn’t contingent upon extrinsic validation.

 

You weren’t born to relinquish your vision and self-expression to the whims and opinions of others.

 

You were born to be yourself. 

 

And your art is an expression of you…of what you love, feel, notice…and of what you want to experiment with and explore. This is the inner journey of creating art and it’s what my book, The Artist’s Journey is all about.  [Big plus: The book features a complimentary Art Tutorial Videos Program]

 

Not everyone is going to love your paintings

 

The question is: Do you love your own exploration in your art?

 

I’m reminded of a story of a child being asked why they did something.

 

The question was framed as: Why are you doing that?

 

The child looked quizzically at the questioner as if to say: Are you kidding?

 

The child finally answers: “Because I want to”.

 

I sit at the feet of babies and children, our greatest teachers

 

Will you allow yourself to deeply explore and experiment and create what’s inside you?

 

Will you step into the perils of creating and go ahead anyway?

 

Will you take big risks and let yourself create many exploratory works, some of which you love and others you don’t like at all?

 

Will you express your truth in your art?

 

This is the journey we’re on. It’s paradoxically vulnerable and perilous and yet wondrous and meaningful.

 

Thank you. I’m honored to be here with you.

 

From my studio to yours,

Nancy

 

A few posts you might like

 

A crucial part of being an artist is grappling with the struggles that creating brings up.

Do you want to bite into life? Bite Into Your Art?

The Muse Doesn’t Live In The Shallow End: Resisting Safe Art

 

Big News: Want to paint together in the Salon?