"I Am The Queen"
watercolor, acrylic, collage, coffee, rhinestones & beeswax on wood
16" x 16"
You see...I've been on a bit of a sabbatical. I'm taking time off from teaching and only concentrating on painting and my move to Atlanta. It has been very good for my soul. My friend has also cut back on some of her responsibilities too, and we both agreed that it had given us more clarity.
Instead of painting, my friend had been writing children's stories and illustrating them! This was something that I knew she dabbled in from time to time...but I thought fine art was her passion! With tears in her eyes, she explained that it was something she had always wanted to do, and had put it on a back burner because others had pushed her fine art career. Now...she was finally doing what she always wanted to do.
It made me think back about what I always wanted to do. I thought I was doing it already...but I realized I had gotten off track quite a few times. When I was 9 years old, I had a CLEAR vision about what kind of artist I wanted to be. Over the years, I've stayed true to the artist part but veered away from the 9 year old's vision.
I've let her dream get interrupted by gallery owners who told me that the work wasn't edgy enough. By friends who said they didn't get it, and other artist's who poo pooed the subject matter because it was too simple. I've gotten discouraged because I've seen my work copied so many times...that I felt I should abandon it because it was too easy to copy. I've even been influenced by family members (spouse included) who liked the work but it was too girlie for them.
Every time I consciously or unconsciously, allowed myself to be influenced by any of these people...I gave away my power.
Today, I take back my power. I promise to stay true because my nine year old self was way wise beyond her years.
Here's a new video for you.
You should take back your power too. If me and my best friend, can do it...so can you.
Love,
Wyanne