I put out the challenge to myself of really deciding a direction with my art the other day, in my step one to becoming a financially successful artist. So, finally last night I figured out my direction. I want to absolutely stick with my current body of work: urban scenes in LA. It dawned on me as I was reading the section on mail art in Suzanne Simanaitis's book Kaleidoscope. I realized why the ATC cards appealed to me so much..I was looking for a way to freely visualize and express my deeper emotions...especially now with my mom dying. My sister told me last night that my mom would never go home again, that she now needed around the clock care. Boy did that hit me hard...still is...that house has been in my family for 42 years of my life and even tho my childhood years were at times extremely difficult, due to my father...that's still home to me! So, it just hit me what I was needing art wise...I need it for me. In fact before I go to WI in a few weeks I am going to create 10 mail art pieces (with images of my mom & family, house, etc.) leaving plenty of room for writing, then when I get there I'll do the journaling part. I'm kinda excited about it...I'll have this wonderful piece of art that will capture my feelings & thoughts about my mom. I've never before done this in dealing with a momentous situation in my life. I'm turning to my art for comfort!
So, back to what I feel is part two, for me, in working toward an accomplished and prosperous art career...Goals~ starting with general (10 year) down to specific (3 month). The sequence being 10 yr, 5 yr, 1 yr, 6 m & 3 m. I tend to be really good at achieving goals IF I write them down & post them...checking them off.
I want to leave this post with a wonderful quote I read every day by Alan Cohen (who I love!)
"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."
Intricately hand drawn portraits of wildlife, nature and pets in graphite and colored pencil by Kathryn Hansen SAA CPSA
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1 comment:
Kathryn I related to this post. I'm going through a similar questioning period..what do I do...do I want to do something else...what is is that IS me with my art..and then I research and I soul search and often come back to the same place I started...
My thoughts and my prayers are with your mother and with you coping with this. I lost my mother 11 years ago and my sister nearly 9 years ago. It's a hard part of life when we lose those we love.
Your idea of taking the mail art with you is a wonderful idea and an opportunity to record meaningful memories.
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