Great article! You are right…. Art continues to thrive outside the ‘Art World’, especially by underrecognized artists who are disabled, neurodivergent, bipoc, etc, or anyone else who historically had less access to professional success.
"Remembering that art lives in the world. Art isn’t confined to the white walls of a museum or a fancy New York gallery. Art is on our clothes, our ceramics, the walls of your local coffee shop, the pattern on the giant Stanley cup I’m drinking water out of, the cover of your favorite book or record. It is not gatekept by industry experts. It is not exclusive to those with MFAs and PhDs. It is available to everyone who hears its calling."
Thank you for sharing such a personal essay with all of us here. You're definitely not alone in your thoughts and wanting to cut loose from art altogether. This essay hit close to home for me, as I'm sure it has and will for so many others. Thank you.
We're building a new community where art isn't just transactional or driven by ego, but instead built through true collaboration and the innate desire to share our creativity with anyone. You're doing great work, and I'm so happy I've found your magazine.
Thank you for sharing. I really relate to the idea of just wanting to lean into the stability of a normal job. But as someone who has been in that world, it’s simply not meant for people like us. Grass is always greener, and you would get pushed out, as I did, regardless, because it would be soul crushing. I’ve been reading a Pema Chodron book that talks about how we will never find stability, never find footing, never find grounding.. anywhere. And there will be struggle in every corner. So truly accepting current our reality can give us some space that it is just life, life is hard and requires us to experience grief if we want to continue living it. Sending relief to your little heart, I feel you 🖤
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Ekaterina. I listen to your podcast and have always appreciated your perspective. I feel the same way about my industry - marketing and content writing. I am always wrestling with it. (I am also an oil painter, but the former is my FT business that I run). As a creative, it's exhausting to see our craft devalued and AI-ified.
Thank you so much for listening and reading. It is exhausting and discouraging but art itself is such a gift. Finding ways to protect it from the noise is the challenge 🫶💙
It’s true. And I think for creatives, it is not an option to turn off that part of ourselves. That would be stepping away from what makes life beautiful and I don’t think I could do it if I tried.
Don’t you dare leave, I just discovered you and your podcast!
This article makes me grateful not only for you but for my own art community here in my little Midwestern lakeside town. We are an eclectic group of misfits, mostly unclassifiable but happy to have a thriving community that is supported by our town.
Exactly what I needed to read today- which actually listen to as I work on my Illustrated- Self Published Interior (for the 5th time, lol). Thank you for sharing ❤️
George Anderson Was the founder of Anger Management. He was my counselor for a while when I had to do court ordered counseling for punching my Father’s supervisor. Now 15 years later I am a much calmer person because of his guidance but there is this still an underlying spark. I heard something today that made me realize that “spark” is more just energy and passion. The reality that exists for all of us, and especially the high energy people is encapsulating in this saying.
“If you want to be successful in anything, from relationships to business: You have to hide your CRAZY!”
Great article! You are right…. Art continues to thrive outside the ‘Art World’, especially by underrecognized artists who are disabled, neurodivergent, bipoc, etc, or anyone else who historically had less access to professional success.
"Remembering that art lives in the world. Art isn’t confined to the white walls of a museum or a fancy New York gallery. Art is on our clothes, our ceramics, the walls of your local coffee shop, the pattern on the giant Stanley cup I’m drinking water out of, the cover of your favorite book or record. It is not gatekept by industry experts. It is not exclusive to those with MFAs and PhDs. It is available to everyone who hears its calling."
Thank you for sharing such a personal essay with all of us here. You're definitely not alone in your thoughts and wanting to cut loose from art altogether. This essay hit close to home for me, as I'm sure it has and will for so many others. Thank you.
We're building a new community where art isn't just transactional or driven by ego, but instead built through true collaboration and the innate desire to share our creativity with anyone. You're doing great work, and I'm so happy I've found your magazine.
Thank you for sharing. I really relate to the idea of just wanting to lean into the stability of a normal job. But as someone who has been in that world, it’s simply not meant for people like us. Grass is always greener, and you would get pushed out, as I did, regardless, because it would be soul crushing. I’ve been reading a Pema Chodron book that talks about how we will never find stability, never find footing, never find grounding.. anywhere. And there will be struggle in every corner. So truly accepting current our reality can give us some space that it is just life, life is hard and requires us to experience grief if we want to continue living it. Sending relief to your little heart, I feel you 🖤
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Ekaterina. I listen to your podcast and have always appreciated your perspective. I feel the same way about my industry - marketing and content writing. I am always wrestling with it. (I am also an oil painter, but the former is my FT business that I run). As a creative, it's exhausting to see our craft devalued and AI-ified.
Thank you so much for listening and reading. It is exhausting and discouraging but art itself is such a gift. Finding ways to protect it from the noise is the challenge 🫶💙
It’s true. And I think for creatives, it is not an option to turn off that part of ourselves. That would be stepping away from what makes life beautiful and I don’t think I could do it if I tried.
I loved this 🙂 Thank you for sharing. And that painting by Megan Whitfield is mesmerizing. Wow!
Thank you! Yes I love Megan’s work!🌊💙
Excellent article and sentiment. Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading ❤️🙏!
Don’t you dare leave, I just discovered you and your podcast!
This article makes me grateful not only for you but for my own art community here in my little Midwestern lakeside town. We are an eclectic group of misfits, mostly unclassifiable but happy to have a thriving community that is supported by our town.
Ah hugs! Thank you so much for being here! We got this, blinders on and finding joy in our work and each other 💙💙🙏
Exactly what I needed to read today- which actually listen to as I work on my Illustrated- Self Published Interior (for the 5th time, lol). Thank you for sharing ❤️
George Anderson Was the founder of Anger Management. He was my counselor for a while when I had to do court ordered counseling for punching my Father’s supervisor. Now 15 years later I am a much calmer person because of his guidance but there is this still an underlying spark. I heard something today that made me realize that “spark” is more just energy and passion. The reality that exists for all of us, and especially the high energy people is encapsulating in this saying.
“If you want to be successful in anything, from relationships to business: You have to hide your CRAZY!”
Creativity definitely helps!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO3fX5Gb?si=iDDAQlT5SSWcS8x7tgYdCg&pi=F0snmUBIQte-j