Inside, it twists and contorts, fighting its way out, begging for a voice. It requires courage. Endurance. To Be an artist is something that is embedded inside the soul. It’s different than just making art; being an artist is a way of existence and it alters the way you see the world.

Your eyes see what is there but more importantly, what isn’t visible, and often what doesn’t exist at all. Living in a dream, an artist exists in two worlds, reality and everything else. Everything else is where dreams, metaphorical realities, imagination, stories – and the list goes on – all pulsate with life. It’s a joyous broken world, mirroring aspects of our own, yet… different. It speaks truth. It can show things as they truly are, not just how we physically see them. It’s not limited. Or at least it doesn’t have to be.

To be an artist means being courageous enough to release those “things” welling up inside of you. Perfection is not the goal. Beauty is irrelevant. And often those “mistakes”, those little imperfections or ugly bumps along the way are the most interesting part. Perhaps that is a spiritual lesson as well… there is beauty in the imperfections, and since we are ALL imperfect, there is beauty in all of us.

My daughters are all artists. It’s second nature to them. Take away their drawing pencils, etc and it’s as if you are cutting off a limb, or crippling them in some way. They have artist souls. For them, being an artist is just who they are.

Others have to work a little harder. It hasn’t been nurtured, cultured, or understood. But it does exist inside, buried deep. Creativity is human therefore to be human is to be creative. Be free to express that creativity. Be an artist, for good or for bad. Have fun. Release. Tell your story. And be an artist, if you dare.

I’ve been thinking about the origins of creativity, what it means to be creative, and how it manifests. You will see these questions come up often in my blog and works. I always tend to circle back to them, intrigued by why we create what we create and where it all begins.

Often, I am asked how I come up with ideas? My current projects, “Queen Bees” and “Wild Things” have kept me busy, twisting simplicity into something different, perhaps slightly surreal, and always a little magical, filled with dreams and oddities. My ideas are a constant flow of word and image associations, twisted a little more as I move from one thing to the next. I imagine the elements I incorporate into a drawing or painting like a symphony, working separately yet together to compose one large emotional score. In an age where symbolism can seem outdated or passe, I do it anyway. It’s not to be rebellious or to reinvent symbolism in some new or profound way. I do it because I do. It’s the way I think and the way I create – the way I work a narrative into each piece I do. To some, I’m sure it’s nothing special… and that is fine. But for me, they are visual narratives ,attempting to delight… and right there is where my creative heart pulsates with joy.

Be true to your soul. Learn and grow, yes. Experiment with different mediums, styles, and methods. Develop an understanding of all art forms, even the ones you aren’t particularly fond of. But in the end, create art that expresses your voice and excites you. There is a VERY REAL pressure as an artist to only create things that will make you money. After all, commerce moves our culture, our world. Don’t let it define your art. It is the quickest way to stifle all creativity. I know from experience. Then, trying to move past it can be a challenge. I’m not saying that after creation, you can’t make money with it. If you can, FANTASTIC. But don’t create with that sole purpose.

Draw inspiration from EVERYTHING. I’ll post more on this later, including where I draw inspiration from, which here is a sneak preview – everywhere. You would be surprised what can inspire you if you are willing to open yourself up.

I know authenticity has become a “buzz” word. Even so, the truth of the word remains the same. There is only one you. Allow your authenticity to manifest in your work. Your individual soul expression will shine through.