My own experience is that everybody is born with a certain talent, and unless he lives that talent to its fullest, something in him will remain missing. He will go on feeling that somehow something is not there that should be.
~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
I've gone pretty far in most of my adult life saying that I'm an Artist, but I never really took the opportunity to link that label to who I am as a person. For a while I called myself an Artist because it's more so what I do than who I am. I'm an Artist because I went to school for Visual Arts, I acted (in the past) and I draw. It's what I "do". To be clear this doesn't have anything to do with my passion for it. The passion is alive and well. My point is that it's time to express it more, allow it to become me.
I came to this conclusion because I'm noticing that though I've continually acquired the skill set to exercise Art, I've never taken the time to establish an identity within my work. I see the works of people I admire, and they all speak a design language that's specific only to them. They've successfully created an identity where when we see an artwork of theirs, you immediately say "That's him/her".
I think the problem with me is that I'm never satisfied with what I currently know as far as skill. I want to continue learning, leaving me with little chance to declare an identity beyond that of "student". It's time to take what I know and apply it toward a style that not only identifies me as a unique artist, but a professional one. Granted as Artists we spend a lifetime continually learning as a means to improve beyond what we know. I think it's also imperative to establish yourself in the professional world.
I've spent a great amount of time (and money) learning and building the necessary skills and knowledge to become an professional artist. I believe this is the part where I declare myself as one, and begin formulating a style that expresses my artistic identity. It's time to become who I am - a Professional Artist.
- JJ
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