- Pablo Picasso
I find myself thinking this several times a week. Why? Last year, I made the decision to not pursue the idea of graduate school for art. Why? I decided it was not a good choice for me. At least not at the moment. I did not want to teach, I did not want to add to the debt I already had, I did not want to leave the city I call home, I, for once, just wanted to stop and do what it is I want to do. The problem? I did not know what I wanted to do. I found a new job, one I never thought I'd have, however, I enjoy it, I really do, and I want to learn, grow, and prosper there. However, this leads me to a hard question to answer: What do you do?
I technically work at a call center. That's what I do, but why am I? Am I allowed to say I am an artist? Can I call myself an artist when I don't get to paint as much even though I have a studio space? Can I call myself an artist when I haven't been in any type of art show in over a year? Can I call myself an artist when I don't go to gallery receptions much? Am I allowed to say I am an artist? If I do, am I liar? Am I a fraud?
The truth is I felt I must have an art-related job because I have an art degree, and I've always made art, but maybe that's not the case. No one said, "You don't have to have a degree in an art-related field." People did say, "Artists have to get jobs to pay to able to make art." What I have is a job to support myself, and support my art....... but does that make my art a "hobby"? I have found that I don't have to have an art-related job to be artist. Word is slowly spreading at work that I am an artist. People are curious so I slip them a card from my senior show years ago. People look at it, and compliment it. In fact, people say I should post more. Somehow, I have become more encouraged to make work because people at my non-art-related job are supportive and interested.
I have a new audience, a new audience I can capture.
I have painted since the day my dad had no idea what to get me for my birthday one year. He came home with an easel set, and ever since, I've had to paint. So much so, that my boyfriend can testify how cranky I can get if I haven't painted in a while. Sure, it's harder now that I don't have the goal of graduate school to achieve, but now, my goal is even greater in my opinion. That goal is to satisfy my own artistic soul.
Because I am an artist.
