I was hosting an art group in Italy three years ago when we were touring the home and business of Vittorio Baltrami. It was the highlight of the trip, a cheese and olive oil tasting at one of premiere olive oil makers in the region. Vittorio asked each of my students, in turn, what they did for a living. The first responded that she was an accountant. The next said she was a retired teacher. The next said she was a realtor. After about the seventh answer, I wanted to jump up and down and yell. Not one of them said they were an artist! Here I was with a group of talented painters who had traveled across the world to pursue their passion, and not one publicly acknowledged they were an artist.

Tonight during a live video for my online class, I asked the the group to share stories about when they first realized they were artists. When did each first have that “aha!” moment, and knew they were meant to follow this creative path. Many said they realized they were artists in grade school. Several said they knew before the age of 5 years. Almost every one that responded had a particularly striking memory of receiving some accolade or award and knowing they had a special talent.

Why do we hesitate to identify ourselves as artists? Many of you who are reading this are creatives. An artist is not simply someone who uses a brush or pen. Whether you create in paint, textiles, stone, or flower arranging, whether you are a writer, landscaper or designer, chances are the need to follow that calling has been a part of you for most of your life. So many of the artists in my classes are women, and setting aside art to raise a family or to pay the bills can be necessary. But finding yourself again, afterward, can be a way to recharge and rediscover your heart and your joy.

You’re an artist. Don’t be afraid to own it.

.

Being an artist makes you an unusual and amazing creature in this materialistic world. What you create will be not only a physical legacy you leave behind, making the space around you more beautiful, but it will be a frame of mind and a willingness to pursue dreams witnessed by your students, your children, and by friends who need to know that art is a noble calling and a real profession. The next time your friends or family introduce you as an amazing artist, say thank you. Agree, graciously, that you are, indeed, an artist. It’s time to own it!

 

When did you first realize you were an artist? I would love to hear your story!

 

.

Paint online with me in Italy!

Get more joy with monthly online classes

Click here for the scoop!

Join me in Flower Mound Studio – Here’s the scoop!

 

 

I rely upon familiar rituals when I am preparing to paint: laying out a fresh palette of color, replenishing piles of color where needed, replacing turpenoid containers with fresh cleaner, topping off the bowl of baby oil for the brush spa, stacking up the freshly folded Viva paper towels, and lining up all my brushes in size order (kidding, I only use 2 brushes…).  Are the pug kiddos all happy and content and have they had second brekkies and early lunch? Once every item is checked off the list, my mind is in a quiet place and I’m ready to lay down the first dab of color on the blank canvas.

This is my zen.

.

Eliminating the barriers to painting is critical to the art journey, including carving out and fiercely guarding the physical space where that takes place. I recall dozens of times in my early painting years where I didn’t paint, simply because it meant hauling out all the gear from a box or closet and setting it up on the dining room table. If you’re trapped in that routine and find it impairs your creativity, consider keeping all of your supplies on a rolling cart in a closet, so you can roll it out, ready to go, rather than having to unpack and reorganize each time.

Once you’ve got your equipment in place, your studio space staked out, and uninterrupted painting time established, there is one more housekeeping chore: Calming your mind, clearing your thoughts, and giving yourself over to the act of creating. For me, that means turning off the sound on the phone and computer so I don’t check email each time it pings, and closing the studio doors so I’m not distracted by those exciting Amazon prime deliveries of dish detergent and new socks. I turn on my latest book on Audible, get my flower setup exactly so, and set aside fears and doubts and dive in.

Here’s my zen list. If it helps, you can put your zen list on a sticky note and check off each item with a magenta sharpie. This is super helpful, mainly because magenta is such a fabby color. 

Finally, I remind myself that this painting is only a study. It’s a step to the next painting. What I’m creating today is not the be-all, end-all of my art career. Every painting is simply one step in this journey, and God, what a beautiful journey it has been….

Prepare Your Space

Calm Your Thoughts

Accept Why You’re Doing This

.

If you feel like the load is lighter before you begin painting, you’ve given yourself permission to have fun and embrace anything that happens. You’ve given yourself permission to paint something you never dreamed you could tackle. You have allowed yourself to fail, before you even begin, so fear is no longer part of the equation.

Have you found a ritual that helps prepare you for painting? I would love to hear from you!

 

 

.

Get more joy with monthly online classes!

Click here for the scoop!

Join me in Flower Mound Studio! Here’s the scoop!