We have termites. Yuck. A carpenter is coming next week to cut out a piece of the wall to see if there is damage there. The termite blasters are coming to blast the termites. The play room has to have the rug pulled up to look for damage & points of entry. Ugh. So today we spent a lot of time purging old toys, storing some things temporarily in boxes, and adding to our growing yard sale pile.I found my old sketch book. Something you don't know about me. I like to draw. I love to draw. I kept a sketch book for a long time, as well as a notebook to catch whatever creative poem pieces might pop out during the day. I loved to draw faces, and loved the way faces could be built out of light and shadows.
I always thought I would do something creative for a living. Drawing, writing, acting -- I enjoyed them all and never figured out which one I liked the most. But I thought that my life's work would eventually incorporate one of these. Somehow, that hasn't worked out. Yet I tell myself that it is never too late to make a change. My parents insisted that following an artistic life was all fine and well, but it wouldn't pay the bills, so it was important to learn how to do practical things, like typing & math. Now my job mostly concerns typing and math, and it makes me sad.
Don't get me wrong. I know they meant this out of love and concern. You need to support yourself. You might break your arm -- you need health benefits. Gawd, do I know now how important good health benefits are! So I understand. Yet.
I promise to encourage my children to follow their heart, to find what it is that they love to do and pursue it with all their might. You can waste a lot of years being practical. But time spent doing what you love to do, increasing your depth of knowledge, learning your craft -- that time is never wasted.
I was thinking about the person who is coming next week to chase out the termites. What did he want to do when he was a kid? Did he bring bugs home in a box to show to his parents? Is he living his dream?
Are you living your dream? I hope you are. I hope to live mine soon, too.
10 comments:
Your sketches are amazing -
Termites - been there, done that - not fun.
Well we all knew you had a way with words, and now you've revealed your amazing drawing talents too!
You've touched on my greatest fear.
My parents have always insisted that I find a path that leads me to a career I love. It's too bad that the things I would love to do, would not make the most stable career. It's already painfully obvious that health benefits are going to play a big role in my ability to "live my dreams". I hate that practicality sometimes has to win over our deepest desires. I hope that you can start living your dreams very soon!
Thanks, Colleen & Jillian!
Jillian, I think that no matter what, you have to live your dreams. It's much better than looking back with regret. No matter what. My husband hated his job for years and years, and is finally using his talents in his new job & he is a different person. After watching him, I realized that I really needed to do the same thing. I will probably keep working in a practical job while I make a transition, but I have to make the change. You are just starting out, so make sure you follow the path that makes you happy. I know that it is harder to do if you are in the arts (is that what you are aiming at?), but art talent can be used for so many things that make a stable career, you would be surprised! Nora's art teacher handed out a list at the beginning of the school year of art-related jobs. It was huge. :)
Ashley, I think if you want to be a professional underwater basketweaver, you have to make the great sacrifice & move to a lovely island, like Hawaii, where the demand is high!
Yeah... I like that idea...
I totally identify with your post, just refer to my latest post (which you did). I wish the same to you.
Right on, Dae!
Oh, I hope you're still drawing.
In grad school there were countless talented artists... and then they all graduated, and went on to other things. The ones who are still doing art are the ones who were too stubborn to quit, no matter what. Even if it's only one drawing every weekend, or one hour every weekend, I hope you're still doing it.
And if you find you can't, or you're stuck, take a class. From your drawings, you might consider exploring woodcut or linocut...
Beautiful work. :)
Thanks Beth!
I do still draw. All the time. Mostly in my journal, and on the margin of any piece of paper that is in front of me. When I'm in meetings I'm usually sketching the person across the table from me and then I have to hide my notes.
I took a raku class last year and found out that I am terrible at throwing pots (unless it is off the wheel and across the room), but better at free-form stuff. That was fun, but only 2 weekends. Not long enough!
Of course with kids, there's always some art project to do...
Oh wow, you can't be worse than me at throwing pots. I throw lumps.
Here are some artists doing portraiture in lino. It's fun, easy to do at home, minimally messy, etc. Plus multiples are cool!
http://athomefaraway.com/
http://www.danielallegrucci.com/
http://mleefineart.com/gallery.aspx?Gallery=72057594088206474
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.hands/
www.jollywoodchopper.com
http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/images/gallery.htm
Yeah, I spend way too much time online looking at art.
Holy cow, I want jolly woodchopper furniture in my house!!!
Yikes. That's some gorgeous stuff. It does look like fun. I could practice on a potato...
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