Become your own artist!
I don't know about you, but as an artist I found it very difficult to develop a style. When I was a college student, all my studies were about experimenting with mediums and different styles, never really giving me the opportunity to develop my own. Once I became a graphic designer, the art derived at the workplace was naturally always for clients. There were so many different types of jobs to do, from brochures, to logos to billboards, that not one would look like the other, unless it belonged to the same campaign. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed what I did for those 15 years in the advertising industry.
From the graphics world, I went on to become a teacher. During my 18 years of giving lessons, I never created art just for the sake of doing art. I did some freelance work here and there, made examples for students, but did not create my own artwork or develop a portfolio of fine art for myself.
I am writing this blog to create awareness to those artists who might be frustrated for the same reasons. I don't want an artist to lose the same time I did. And those who did, it is never too late to start. If you love to do art, do it. Don't let life get in the way. I am now 54 years of age, and I don't have much art to show for the past 18 years, and that is something I regret. Draw, paint, and sketch regardless of what it is. Put things down on paper, canvas or whatever your support might be. Keep it, file it, put it in your portfolio of works. Have something to look back at. Much of my work on this website is old work, however the digital art is more recent.
My personal challenge is to put my own words into action. I want to put my artistic talents to work. Though I still have about 8 more years of teaching to go, I do not want them to pass me by without creating my personal art. This is the time to explore, and rediscover myself as an artist. What fine art medium I prefer, I do not know yet, though the computer is what I am most comfortable with at this time.
To put my plan in to action, I have begun getting things in place. One of my rooms is now an art studio, a place I can go and make a mess in, without the thought of having to clean up each time. I am updating my fine arts supplies and I am exploring the digital arts medium to a level that I have not done before. I began exhibiting my work and even though some have been rejected, some have not. They were juried in to local shows and surprisingly, they have won awards. Slowly, I am becoming my own artist again and it feels good.