Life is Art

How do you separate life from art as an artist? Should you even try? Why have I been trying?

I have been blogging off and on for years now. In addition to being an artist, I am an eMarketing Consultant and Graphic Designer for several clients, and I have poured through data on what works and what doesn’t as far as business goes, but I really think the “rules” for an artist may just be different.

Who do you buy art from?  Do you buy art?  Would you be more willing if you knew the artist, the artist’s life perspective and insights, even the daily struggles?  I think you probably would.  I think I would.  I can’t afford my own originals much less someone else’s, but I am more likely to buy prints from an artist I actually know and can identify with.

Here is the point.

I am tired of trying to appear on my website like solely a professional artist.  I am so much more than that, I am a new mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a hard worker, a procrasinator, and sometimes a bitch. I am a real person, and I consider my art to reflect that.  I expect myself to be flaky and allover the place at times, and then very controlled and rigid at others. I am a work in progress too, and my work at life contributes completely to the artwork I produce.

I don’t go five minutes without a creative thought, but they aren’t always about the artwork I make.  Sometimes it is a brilliant idea that someone else should run with to make the world a better place – like my Business plans for the EpiCenter (which I will share someday).  Or maybe it is just an extreme emotional response to an experience. For example, my sister just gave birth to her second child. She was in early labor with contractions every 10 minutes for SEVEN DAYS.  She was exhausted, but she was a trooper. Spending that time with her and hearing her insights put me in a place where I understand and respect and love my little sister more that ever.  The other day it was even a genius thing that came out of my mouth.  I said, “All artwork is borrowed from somewhere even if it is just borrowed from the Hand of God.” It’s these completely honest thoughts and feelings I want to write about.

 

 

All artwork is borrowed from somewhere even if it is just borrowed from the Hand of God. -RMCotton

The things that make life worth living, because my artwork is merely one of those things. It is my profession, my chosen trade, the thing I have spent my whole life honing and practicing and learning and teaching.  It is a huge part of my life, but it dreamed up or created in a vacumn.

I don’t want to be superficial and vain. I want to be honest about who I am as a person. It has everything in the world to do with my work.  I would like to challenge myself to use this blog as a daily journal of my thoughts, emotions, rantings, and artwork.  Starting today April 15th, I will write for 1 month – everyday.  A completely honest look at who I am and what I do.  I don’t expect it to be easy, but I think it is necessary.

So, until tomorrow?…