Aimless Drifters Unite!

As you may know I love reading art blogs. I enjoy taking a peek at the person behind the art, and watching them grow artistically. It also feels like I am reading a letter from a friend, as that is how I see a lot of the art community here.

So I thought I'd offer a peek into this artist's mind. I have been thinking about my direction in art lately. I've always believed that learning new techniques is very important for growth. I love the thrill of learning something new, and especially the friendships found in workshops, and various Ning groups. However, I seem to be drifting from one thing to the next. I am pulled in many directions: art journaling, ACEOs, mixed media, illustration, folk art...on and on... The problem is, I love all them all, and refuse to pick one or two to focus on.

Reading some blogs today made me wish for a bit of direction. Some artists talk about how they feel guided on this path, and how things just fall into place for them. They say this is an exciting adventure, and feel they are growing spiritually as well as artistically.

Am I the only one who feels kind of left out? like where is my path? and why don't I have things falling into place to let me know I am where I should be? I don't feel like I am being guided in my 'journey'. It's just me and my paints, working late into the night, trying to make the image on paper reflect the vision in my mind. It sometimes gets lonely being an artist.

I do what I do because I love it, it brings me joy, and I can't imagine a world without creating...I like to think I am inspired to do so.
Maybe the problem is I love art too much, and let myself get frustrated over the fact that there is so much I want to do, but never enough time. After working full time, doing errands, and all the other stuff that needs to be done, sometimes you think: 'why bother'?

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm feeling sorry for myself, lol! The point of this post was to show people that I don't have it all together, that I am working through these issues one at a time. Things have never just magically fallen into place for me, I have to work for everything I get. It is determination, and a strong desire that keeps me going, even when I want to give up.
For those of you who can relate, just know that you don't need any outside guidance, or approval. You are enough. You have enough right now, where you are. There is no one, or nothing that can stop you but yourself. And it is your own soul, your own inner voice that will never let you down. Don't listen to the other voice that says 'its too late', or 'why bother'...that voice will paralyze you.

We're all in this together folks, so lets continue supporting each other.

*The painting above is one of my older works, before I discovered mixed media.