So I AM an athlete! I’ve never been in a race, ever, and I finished a triathlon on Sunday. I’ve been training for months, but in the days before the race I was in a panic. What the hell did I get myself into? I CAN’T do this. Swim in the San Francisco Bay – you gotta be kidding me!!
Thinking about the swim was the scariest part, and although my friend Deborah and I were the last ones out of the water (besides the people who quit); we finished and ran out and up the ramp holding hands. In the water I kept singing “keep swimming, keep swimming” like Dora from Finding Nemo. Then 12 miles on the bike and a 2.5 mile run – adrenaline kicked in and I sprinted over the finish line, completing the race in 1:56 where I thought it’d take me 2.5 hours. I’m still so high about it all!!
So, but what does this have to do with art…. I keep thinking about how we define ourselves.
If you say you’re an artist, you’re an artist.
I was on the plane returning from Chicago from the National WCA and CAA conference and there was a young girl sitting next to me drawing in a sketch pad. I asked her “Are you an artist?” and she said “Oh no, I’m not an artist”. I told her “Well of course you are. If you say are then you are”. I have never seen anyone’s face light up so much; it was like, YES Virginia – there IS a Santa Claus! It still pulls on my heartstrings how transformed she seemed. She sat up straight and asked if she could show me her drawings, she was so proud. So we went through her (somewhat awful) drawings and I found something to praise in each one and gave her pointers.
Just like winning a race or improving your time, juryied exhibitions and gallery shows are similar, it is a way to measure your progress. Are you going to win every one, no – but it is a way to push yourself for better results. Consider them a measuring stick or a stopwatch for your artistic growth.
On the bike ride, on my beach cruiser with others whizzing by, I kept reminding myself this is a race only with myself, to keep on going and it felt really good. Every time you go into your studio, don’t measure yourself to other artist’s success but instead find your inner voice and work on being able to clearly express that vision.
It’s all about the journey and growing in strength doing what you love.
