French Broad River | Living the Life of an Artist | Picto Project Week 4

 

 

This image is a similar one to the color version I shared last week.  However, it is at a slightly different angle and in a rich black and white pattern.

I wanted to share it because this is the next photo I intend on rendering into a painting.  (Tomorrow’s post will feature my latest finished painting.)

The next step is doing the charcoal drawing, which I will share later in the week.

Living as an Artist…

A few days ago, my breath was taken away when I found one of my journals from a few years ago.

In an entry dated 6/25/10, here is an excerpt:

I think if money were no object, I would use my Spanish skills to help members of my community.  I’d spend the rest of my time selling and working on art.  I’d garden and write and can and preserve.  I’d learn the guitar finally and hike the Camino de Santiago.  I’d paint murals with messages and mountain bike and hike to my heart’s content.

 I got chills reading this.  It’s been an interesting journey, but I am living that life right now.  

I am living my dream.

I’m teaching and helping members of my community.

I’m working on my art, especially through the Pictorialization Project.

I’m not gardening much at the moment as it’s winter and I am busily trying to get my art and writing business really going.

Guitar?  Well…I like to play and took lessons when I was in high school, but one of these days I’ll get going with that again.

Mountain biking and hiking?  Yes and yes.  Actually, winter calls for a lot more hiking (mountain biking is too cold and we all know I hate being cold), but I’m doing that.

Last year, I decided to live my dream…

I had the support of my husband and some great friends.

And once you decide that it’s time to live your dream, things somehow fall into place.

It’s certainly not an easy road.  Don’t get me wrong.  Dreams are not called such because they are easy.

They are called dreams because little by little, with persistence and determination, we can realize them.  We just have to commit to it.  Really commit to it.

And it can be done.

I’ve given up plenty to make it happen.  No, I don’t go out to eat.  I don’t have a smartphone.  I have an older car.  I don’t buy clothes.  I no longer have savings.

And you know what?  I’m free.  I’m doing what I love.  And somehow giving up those other things – which I know isn’t forever – is okay.

I know that I’m realizing a dream and for that, giving up a few creature comforts is a price I’m willing to pay to make my artistic and literary contribution to the world.