Living as an artist: One Box At a Time

Hi, welcome to my blog / monologue, where I journal my returning to art, in a non particular order and frequency.

2 February, 2024

No artwork to share today, but I'm using this post as a reminder to myself, especially on the tougher days of the artistic journey.

Lately, I haven't been drawing much. There have been rough sketches here and there, but nothing I'd consider a "real artwork" worthy of sharing.

Is it stressful? Of course it is. The contrast with the zen-like state when I'm lost in the joy of creating is strong. In between those moments, darkness creeps in. New ideas need to be formulated and brought to life, and the mind starts to interfere, especially when the number in your bank account keeps dwindling.

Where does the time go? Oh, it slips away easily: children, household, gym, administration and tax filing, and brainstorming business ideas. My consulting work is a strong competitor for time yet offers a welcomed financial stability for now - even though I wish it were the other way around.

And then there's introspection. Lots of it. What do I truly enjoy creating? What new paths can I explore? The possibilities and choices in the art world seem endless, from different styles and subjects to various ways to financial success. It can be overwhelming at times. I've had to zoom out.

I once thought that returning to and committing to art meant the end of soul-searching. Little did I know it was only the beginning.

Today, I have three boxes in front of me. One contains a professional scanner (thanks to my husband); another holds my first batch of art prints; and the third is filled with packaging materials for shipping. With these three boxes, I'll be able to take another small step forward - opening my own Etsy shop. It's a small focus I can cling to in the present, amidst the uncertainty of the future.

In my "previous life" as a manager, I had a motto that I used to motivate my team - "Bird by Bird." It's a quote from "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" by Anne Lamott. I encourage you to look it up; it's a witty and insightful read.

This time around, I think I'll adopt a new motto just for myself: "One Box At a Time".

But before unboxing, I’ll first go and do some cleaning. :)