The Artist

"I'm an artist."  I envied the woman who had just spoken those words.

Okay, I admit I was watching an episode of Hoarding: Buried Alive on television (actually it was a HBA marathon) and the woman had just spent weeks clearing out an enormous pile of clutter from her living room.  I wondered how she could be an artist when it probably took her five minutes to climb through her belongings traveling from the kitchen to the bathroom.  When did the art happen?

Nevertheless, I was impressed.  I want to be an artist.  Exactly when did this woman's path and mine diverge?  How did it happen that she ended up being an artist and I ended up being...well, me?

I grew up watching my father (who, like most artists was left handed) draw pictures and paint landscapes in his spare time.  It's possible that although I'm right handed, I have the genetic makeup to be an artist.  I loved to draw when I was a kid.  My sister and I spent hours drawing pictures of horses, and although Daddy said mine looked more like cows, he was very encouraging.

Maybe there's still time.

I wouldn't expect to be famous or anything, I would just be a local artist wearing lots of silver bracelets and rings, including two or three toe rings (note to self: get a pedicure).  I definitely don't have the right hair, but I do have several pair of cute sandals and I like to sew and could easily make myself some flowy cotton skirts and peasant blouses.

What about talent?  After reflecting on the talent that I've seen during my visits to various art museums, shows, and exhibits, I find that my reactions can generally be sorted into four groups:

          1.  Beautiful

          2.  I Don't Get It

          3.  I Could Do That

          4.  Ugh

So what have I learned?  First of all, based on the categories above, talent may be negotiable.  Also I'm being way too superficial about my hair.  

I've decided that a legitimate artist is someone who has actually sold a piece of artwork.  So using backward chaining, I've come up with five steps to becoming an artist:

          1.  Enroll in art classes
          2.  Practice everyday
          3.  Allow people to see my work without being embarrassed
          4.  Publicly post my art
          5.  Sell a piece of art

I will begin with step one, always a good plan.  I think the senior center is offering drawing classes this summer.  Coincidentally, summer is the perfect weather for cute sandals.