JKLTip Think of yourself as the mixed medium art project, try different techniques, different textures, different colours with you as the canvas
Instead of asking what type of artist am I and what art do I create, be the art project itself. When we audit our life learning we can appreciate all of the add ons this world has brought us, all of the relationships, all of the books, all of the experiences we have learned. It’s like the nature vs. nurture argument again, but not really. No doubt in life we are given some tools, art supplies, but with those we can always add on to our canvas, forever
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When it comes to growing as an artist in this world we often think of art, whatever we do, or create, as something external to ourselves. This creates a lot of questions from others, “well are you a teacher? Are you a poet, a dance coach?” It creates the feeling that our art is reduced to a particular object, or moment in time. When we get lost trying to define and categorize, we find ourselves second guessing, perfecting, or doing things we don’t want to do because we feel that others expect it from us
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We fight so hard to define ourselves, to define what we do, when mental health more than likely will be found in letting go. In allowing ourselves to be the canvas, to be the artwork itself. Using a ton of mixed mediums, or not, a ton of different colours, or not, we create a masterpiece that is us. Instead of all of the rules, definitions and guidelines for us as people, we can try and be the art projects ourselves.