What's Your Appetite?

Are you hungry for success, or satisfied with the buffet of creating when you please? I was chatting with an artist in one of my recent workshops and she said she created for herself, that she wasn’t hungry enough to be an artist as a profession. This is interesting because the conversation was started with her sharing some of her story of growing up in poverty. I was curious why her history didn’t affect her present mindset now that she is secure in life. We talked more about her work, and she told me she is happy if she sells something but doesn’t go out of her way to try. Making art and her creative process is her happy place and that is the end result.

We are all on different journeys in life and I know some artists that will never share their art with anyone. They make it in hiding, it’s their secret. You may have read or heard of amazing art being discovered after someone has died. No one knew they were so talented or prolific. I have also known artists that what they produce is a product to be replicated and sold. It is a business, and that is ok too. There are many people who return to art later in life after raising families and building careers. These are the people I usually meet in my workshops. Some create for the joy of it, and some are more driven or hungry for recognition. I say that with great respect for the hunger because I am one of them.

I have been fortunate to always make art. In my twenties it also had to add to my income. I had at least two jobs, with one or both being creative. My path was a bit different. I didn’t follow a traditional career, so I think I was hungry for success. During the lean times I was certainly hungry, but working in restaurants always kept me fed. What I found interesting with the conversation I had with the artist is that her childhood history was overcome, and she was content with her success, not feeling the need to push for more. I love that. I also love creating for the sheer pleasure of it, with no end goal. That too is my happy place. Writing books, making videos and teaching allow me to make various types of art too.

So, what is your appetite? I have mentored students that were really hungry and worked every day to make their dreams come true. One recently retired successful corporate executive told me she had never worked as hard to be a successful artist. She thought it would be easy! I have also seen students excel in art school and then move to something else to be able to have a more stable income and lifestyle. My nephew is a very talented artist, but he got his engineering degree and paints and crochets in his spare time. He has always done something creative to keep that part of his soul vital.

To return to the original conversation, I was inspired by the artist I was talking to that gave me the phrase, I’m not hungry enough. I am amazed at her ability to let go of her past and embrace her present self. She may have other things going on, we didn’t walk down that path, but she makes beautiful art and presents as a happy together person. So, thank you for giving me the idea for this blog.

Understanding your motivation comes from looking at your history or backstory. I am off to teach a workshop in Ireland and the focus will be on the stories the landscape tells and how we as artists create from that history and myth. We all have intimate stories of our creative process: whether we were supported or not to pursue the arts, physical and financial struggles and always the self-doubts. We share these struggles along with the creative solutions and ways we climb over the obstacles and make our way voice seen and heard. How hungry are you? How does your soul move past the struggles to reach your happy place of creating?