Dear Creatives: The Learning Is In The Doing
For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to focus on. In this post, I want to share my journey with you. I hope as I share this post and the journey that I am currently on, you can find a way to pick a focus and do. You will learn something even if it means going to the next thing. All the links that lead me to where I currently am on my journey will be listed at the end of this post. If you are creative I want to encourage you to read through this before checking out the links.
So do I focus on Art? Design? Illustration? I love them all equally.
Recently I went through my backup hard drive and listened to a class/one on one session that I had with Lauren Hom. My Epiphany didn’t start there.
As an artist, my desire is to have a fulltime studio where I can make work that I enjoy. I have a few artists that inspire me and one of them is Lauren Hom.
During my travel with my cousins outside the country, I really wanted to sit and try some urban sketching. But it often felt like we were rushing. So most of my adventure was captured through photos. There was excitement in wanting to explore, and I’ve never really sat down to do urban sketching on my own so who knows how long it would take.
Fast forward to April, I decided to take an online class by OHN MAR WIN on skillshare. Her class talked about being kind to ourselves and removing the pressure of creating. Using a daily sketch practice as a warm-up rather than a masterpiece, and to set the intention and take time for reflection. I completed the project and began to sketch more - knowing my sketches weren’t of much substance. I was creating just to create.
I then stumbled across Beau B Frank, his youtube channel and enjoyed some of the live videos he shared that were previously captured on Instagram. I completed watching all his content within a weekend, checked out his Instagram and his blog and became an instant fan.
Once the Corona Virus hit, a friend of mine launched a new project. I felt this huge sense of jealously. Friends posting “I just purchased” made me feel like well where’s my support? Where're the people that decided to “invest” and buy from me? Before the pandemic, before the crisis and before trying to make a buck during the cause. I was feeling salty.
I chatted out my feelings with a friend over Instagram and they were telling me why I shouldn’t harbor these feelings. I went to youtube to find a way to deal with this feeling. I typed in Jealousy as a Christian and a video popped up by Heather Lindsey. It touched me so deeply and taught me that rather than harbor those feelings I should pray for that person I feel jealous of. I should wish them well and hope they succeed. I wouldn’t want a friend of mine to be secretly jealous of me.
Within a few days I felt better, the shame and guilt of my feelings dissipated, and I found myself sharing the very same message with someone else. It let me know that its ok to be vulnerable with others because it reminded me that I am not alone.
My husband tagged me in a Facebook post that really struck me. He tagged me in it about two days after I was experiencing the emotions but when I watched it, I realized my potential hasn’t even been on display. I’ve been creating mediocre work and not building on the basics that I already possess, so how and why would anyone want to support me?
I uploaded two videos from a workshop that I attended in 2019 called, How to Make a living as an artist. One question that was posed was, how do you decide who can be in your program? He shared his experience and he said, “the learning is in the doing”.
Often times I would wonder is it my work that people would want to buy? Do I have to share about myself? What type of work should I be focusing on?
We can only become better artists by practicing. We can only become better illustrators by doing it. We can only learn if art, illustration or design should be our practice by doing it. And don’t just do it for a week. Be committed to seeing it through. Change subject matter, switch mediums, study the masters and implement their techniques - but don’t quit until you know you’ve given it all you’ve got.
After I went through my hard drive and found the videos from Lauren, some old project ideas popped up. Projects that I had a genuine interest in doing but allowed fear to stop me. When I listened to the videos I uploaded to youtube, he (I can’t recall his name) mentioned Harpofoundation - so I googled it. I looked into the application for the grants and this is when it finally clicked.
You have no portfolio. The current body of work you do have is not what you want to be known for. So I am revisiting the basics to refine my own building blocks of practice. I had ideas I wanted to share for the fashion show for SO INSPIRED ARTS, but I now have more time to execute my ideas. Like always we need to have a deadline on things so we can complete them. I’m excited about what’s to come and I plan to share the process.
Moreover, I continue to see that we are creators created to create. What comes out of us is how others experience us. If we want others to experience Christ we need to embody Him and treat others with how we wish to experience them. Take on those characteristics make people laugh, encourage others, teach what you know, be vulnerable. Show that you are human and that while you strive for perfection, you know what it’s like to fail.
Most people want to learn from you when you’ve already made it. Your portfolio shows what you are into, and what you are capable of. Do you like bright colors? Fashion? Illustration? Food? Photography? Pick one subject and focus on that.
Be willing to invest. Be it finding a mentor that’s taken the path you want to get to, reading books, taking courses. At some point, you’ll have to spend money to make money.
You can see my project here and take the class using this link.