Become a Practicing Artist

At heart, everyone's an artist. In practice, of course, this is not so. You may be surprised to learn that, despite your artistic endeavors, you are not an artist, not a practicing artist at any rate.

Art is loyalty to the spontaneity of your individuality. It's expressed through action. It may nod to conventions, but it doesn't bend to them. A practicing artist is one who structures life through the creativity of individual impulse and inclination. A homemaker who loves what he or she does is a practicing artist, so is a mechanic and a farmer if they structure their lives according to their natural feelings. Whereas, a writer or a painter may not be practicing artists even if they get paid for their work. There are plenty of professional "artists" whose inclinations lie in other areas but they're too scared to pursue those inclinations. They are engaging in creativity, to be sure, but it's not art.

You have your individuality for a reason. It's meant to guide you. A practicing artist knows this, and doesn't limit the areas in which this individuality is expressed. In illustration, you may love to stay up until the wee hours of the night and wake up late. You may have spent your entire adult life trying to rid yourself of this "bad habit." However, if you trust yourself, as a practicing artist, you'll structure your life to accommodate the fact that you love to stay up late and not try to deny your own nature. Believe it or not, you love to stay up late for a reason. A practicing artist understands that inclinations are a language meant to be spoken through action. The more one acquiesces to this living language, the greater the quality of expression.

Contrary to popular notions, if you don't repress them, your individual impulses will always breed moderation, kindness, and pleasure. They are a symbol of your individuality, and at the heart of art itself. Disregard them, and you put yourself at risk.

All people want three things: love, challenge, and freedom. Individuality constitutes the unique way in which you achieve these fundamentals. Art happens when you heed your individuality and express your true impulses and inclinations in the face of cultural norms which may or may not be supportive. A practicing artist, then, is attuned to the fine art of living whose means are limitless but whose source is constant. You are the art you produce, and your life is an extension of that art. In light of this fact, "Know thyself" was never a more important phrase.

S.C. Giles is a contributing author of The Artrepreneur E-Zine and newsletter.

The Artrepreneur offers articles helping artists focus on proven techniques to accomplish any goal. Read More: http://www.theartrepreneur.com

Copyright © 2005 Arctic Mouse, Inc. All rights reserved.

---

The Secret of Self Care

Wherever you go, there you are. There's no escaping it... Read More

Character or Reputation

Character or Reputation. When we see these two words together,... Read More

I?ll Believe It When I See It

I was working with this guy who wanted to live... Read More

Embrace Change

Last Sunday I was sitting in on a class we... Read More

Do You Have Tickets To Your Dream Theater?

I'd like you to do an exercise with me.I want... Read More

More For Me Means More For You

How would you like to have what you want AND... Read More

Law of Attraction and Dreams, Premonitions or Predictions

Recently, I received an interesting email in which a woman... Read More

4 Simple Steps To The Good Life

If you want to create the good life -- a... Read More

Aging Gracefully Through Vastu Shastra

Aging is inevitable, but its most negative effects can be... Read More

Harvest Moon Lessons

The full moon in September is often bigger and brighter... Read More

I Believe In Man

I have a deep and abiding belief that there lies... Read More

Transformational Counseling - Part Two

Once one becomes present to his or her self-limiting belief,... Read More

Plug in with a Pupose!

Imagine that each person on this planet carried with them... Read More

Getting the Universe to Work for You

Wouldn't it be great to know that you have something... Read More

The Law of Attraction - Make it Work For You

The Law of Attraction responds to whatever vibration you are... Read More

8 Powerful Tips to a Magnificent Life

Tip #1. Find your purpose. Finding one's purpose is the... Read More

Law of Attraction Article: How to STOP Being a Person Nothing Works For

Do you ever wonder why great things happen to some... Read More

Do Good Deeds & Get Rewarded? A Universal Mystery Uncovered

Do you believe in the idea of "abundance" or do... Read More

Why Do We Settle? You Have the POWER to Change the Outcome

Why do we settle for less and then make excuses... Read More

Jekyll vs. Hyde, 2 Faces of Immortality!

Meet the most important person you will ever meet in... Read More

Your Mind is a Battlefield

Every person should enjoy life in abundance and prosperity, but... Read More

The Likeability Factor ? Do You Have It?

Growing up, we all had a mental picture of the... Read More

Universal Law

Have you ever had "one of those days" when absolutely... Read More

Do You Have Your Best Life?

For many years I had a good life. My illness... Read More

Releasing the Illusion of Control

It's amazing how easy it is to convince ourselves that... Read More