I was always told that art is only good as a hobby and one cannot sustain a lifestyle by creating art, let alone making it a full-time profession. So, I did what most kids did…study hard and get on the hamster wheel. I won’t say I did not enjoy that; I did learn a thing or two on the run, but the pattern somehow remained the same. I yearned for a little more freedom, I yearned for creativity.
I thought art was for those who studied it and trained under great artists. I stuck to the things that were familiar to me. I thought I was being liberal enough to allow myself to explore my creative side during the weekends. I did not realise that I had associated my identity strictly with what I did during the day so much that I had almost forgotten that I had a dying soul inside of me which I rarely bared out.
It was only recently that I took the courage to call myself an ‘Artist’ albeit with a certain amount of diffidence. So, what really changed…well nothing did immediately for sure, and the transition was not an easy one. After some serious introspection, I realised I had created a lot of walls within and my identity was not limited to just a thing or two. I had to knock those walls down and let go of my rigid beliefs.
Here’s what I learnt:
I am enough– We are all unique in our own way, and we express ourselves differently; some write, some sing &, dance, some play a sport or indulge in some sort of a creative activity. Have you ever wondered why we do that! It is because not every feeling can be verbalised and sometimes, we just find it hard to say things out loud. But following an artistic quest helps us find our voice and happiness. When I found myself following the norms that the society had set, I found that my voice was being taken away. I realised, certain things are not for everyone, and that’s okay. All is good as long as I feel authentic, intentional and purposeful. I am enough, I have always been enough, and I will always be enough.
Give up on Comparison –The battles I was used to were different from the ones I faced now. This was all new to me. I found myself dealing with feelings that I had never dealt with before. A sheep in a wolf’s clothing (imposter syndrome) was one, but as I was learning about #social media, I found myself looking at others and thinking in my head, ‘wow did you look at their work! That’s real creativity’ Thankfully, that thought did not last very long as I realised, I am here to be me! You’ll always be better than some and worse than some. It would only stunt your growth as an artist if you compare your work with someone else’s. I’d rather be humble, admire & learn a thing or two from them rather than fill myself up with negativity. Comparison is the thief of Joy!
Find your Joy – Joy is described as a feeling of great delight caused by something extraordinary. Before discovering calligraphy & gilding, I dabbled in a lot of art forms but never felt the kind of Joy that I felt with the way my pen danced over paper or with the delicate application of the gold over my work. Find something that you can carry with you in your heart and mind when the world becomes too hard to handle. Find your Joy!
Let go of Excuses – When I started, I found it tough to juggle between my day job and this newfound passion for calligraphy and gilding. It was easy to succumb to the pressures of life and call the idea off of practicing or learning or just showing up at your desk every day. The innate fear in us masquerades as resistance in the form of self-doubt, procrastination, or rejection, or even Netflix for that matter. But the moment we own up and move in the direction of where we really need to be nothing can stop us from growing as an artist.
Say ‘No’ to Unsolicited Advice – This one is especially interesting to me as I said at the very beginning, the conditions that society imposes on you make it difficult for one to maneuver the maze of almost unrealistic expectations. Questions like ‘Oh, so you are an artist now? Is that even a real job? Do you make enough? Don’t you think you are being too indulgent? Why waste all the education you have had? Must be really nice to relax now, painting and drawing at leisure…and the list goes on. Stop lending an ear right there. Find your own safe space to discuss your inhibitions or ideas. Find your tribe, if you have none, make one.
No Guilt please – Guilt is one of those emotions that feeds on itself. The guilt of not being good enough, of spending too much on art supplies, ‘Ah, I could have done better on that piece’, not finding time for the family, not making enough money too soon…the list again can go on. Guilt can be a feckless emotion and you need to keep reminding yourself that what you do is important constantly it makes you complete. It may all look slow or dull now, but things always get better, and as you keep at it, the mud will settle, and you’d be able to see clearer. “No amount of guilt can solve the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future” – Buddha
Give up on Perfection –Perfection can be suffocating. We feel the need to make everything look perfect and do not put our work out there in the fear of failure or embarrassment. There were times when I despised a piece of art that I created and almost did not put it out there, but that very work was much appreciated and loved! Strange, isn’t it! But that is the power of art. It speaks for itself. “Progress, not perfection, is what we should be asking of ourselves.” ― Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way
I was painfully aware that I had no formal training to be an artist, but I kept my shoulder to the wheel, and as I kept at it, opportunities knocked and teachers appeared and showered their kindness. Our journeys may look different but don’t forget why you started it all in the first place. Reach for the skies with your feet firmly rooted to the ground.
“Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere” – Peter O’Toole.
