Blog
Passion Anyone?
Everyone's life is complicated and if you have "that passion" you will and must find "your" way.
"Why do you have a passion for what you paint?" Recently I was asked to prepare an answer to that question for a PBS feature story about my work. Although I paint a variety of subject matter, portraits of everyday people in Tennessee are my passion. How do I know it is my passion? My heart races and the subject stirs my emotions. I am not happy until I can get the painting completed! I pray for guidance from God to help me find the right subjects and that person/subject just seems to have an inner glow!
As I walked alone this cloudy, cool morning, I reflected on the past few decades of honing my techniques, knowledge, and becoming a "real artist." I would define a "real artist" as one who finds comfort in what they are producing, not caring what anyone else thinks, and constantly facing a challenge to go beyond. My journey as an artist was in art education (34 years) and directing plays (24 years) which involved designing costumes, props, and sets for the productions. Since I retired one year ago, I have devoted myself to being a "real artist" for the next decade or more, I hope. (I do have health issues that I battle everyday and for the past 40 years.) Everyone's life is complicated and if you have "that passion" you will and must find "your" way.
Oh yes, the producer said "in sharing what inspires you just may touch others to find their passion." My mom would be so proud of my "small" but progressive successes. As proved in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life", one person does make all the difference in other people's lives. Because of her sacrifice to pay for correspondence art lessons, I was able to pursue art. You see, in our rural high school there was no art offered. Did she see how absorbed I was when drawing and painting? Where would I be without that one person in my life? She made all the difference to me. All of us have mentors. Possibly you and I can be a "spark" of passion for someone else that would like to be a "real artist." Consider those people that made all the difference in you becoming an artist.
As I walked alone this cloudy, cool morning, I reflected on the past few decades of honing my techniques, knowledge, and becoming a "real artist." I would define a "real artist" as one who finds comfort in what they are producing, not caring what anyone else thinks, and constantly facing a challenge to go beyond. My journey as an artist was in art education (34 years) and directing plays (24 years) which involved designing costumes, props, and sets for the productions. Since I retired one year ago, I have devoted myself to being a "real artist" for the next decade or more, I hope. (I do have health issues that I battle everyday and for the past 40 years.) Everyone's life is complicated and if you have "that passion" you will and must find "your" way.
Oh yes, the producer said "in sharing what inspires you just may touch others to find their passion." My mom would be so proud of my "small" but progressive successes. As proved in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life", one person does make all the difference in other people's lives. Because of her sacrifice to pay for correspondence art lessons, I was able to pursue art. You see, in our rural high school there was no art offered. Did she see how absorbed I was when drawing and painting? Where would I be without that one person in my life? She made all the difference to me. All of us have mentors. Possibly you and I can be a "spark" of passion for someone else that would like to be a "real artist." Consider those people that made all the difference in you becoming an artist.
