Becoming A “Holistic” Artist

Ok,  so if using the term “holistic” is the newest fad in town then declare me guilt and lock me away.  I just can’t think of any other way to say it, honestly.

Complete?
All-encompassing?
Uh…
(I’d already have to use a thesaurus to get beyond those two)

Moving right along…

What in the world does it mean to be an artist? Attempting to answering this question has definitely been the most taxing process I’ve ever had to deal with over the past 10 or so years.

“Am I an graphic designer? A writer? A photographer? Or a painter?”

These thoughts have always echoed through my head and rightly so consider the fact that I seem to change artistic directions every six months.

Bipolar? (perhaps)
Indecisive? (I hope not!)
Or maybe it just means I’m a college student? (always an easy out)

After several years of feeling around for answers I think I’ve finally found a few and wouldn’t mind sharing them with you.

1. Probably the most obvious answer but still worth stating: it’s not an “either/or” situation. Being an artist can cross from one medium to the next. Someone might have more success in one field over  another but the idea of creativity being limited to just one specific area is rather absurd.
2. From that freedom comes the ability to gather inspiration from many different sources, not just the one I’m working. Again, this doesn’t seem like anything groundbreaking but somehow you lose the forest for the trees when you’re walking on your little trail with your head down. I’ve finally had a chance to lift my head up, gather my barrings and see this grand forest I’m in (but the trees are really nice too).
3. There are many different forms of communication and every medium of art has the ability to convey truth in a unique and powerful way. There’s no need to settle for just one type. Instead, use the one best suited for the task at hand. I think I’ve limited myself by being  fearful of the title “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I didn’t want to stretch myself out over too many different skills and trades for fear that I might not excel at one of them. I need to make money somewhere, don’t I!? But my new school of thought is that every distinct trade is a new arena I can grow and hone my creativity in. Nothing has been withheld from me, the world is my playground (artistically speaking).
4. Another big revelation is that I need to maintain and guard my own artistic integrity. For me that looks like staying true to what I know and feel about any given piece. I think the hard part about this is realizing that this means I may have to walk away from certain opportunities, as tempting as they may be, because ultimately they’ll drain me of my creative spirit and passion. Art is sort of my lifeblood, both my outlet and my source of renewal. If I don’t protect it and keep is sacred then it’ll become tainted by the daily grind of life and work. Again, I realize that’s a very dangerous thing to say. I feel like I have opportunity to share my gifts of creativity but that can ever-so-quickly become exploited into just another money-driven pursuit.
5. I may be a full blown extrovert by nature but I’ve found creating and expressing art requires my most introverted self. I think I more or less discovered this in my last college art class. I would sit around and talk to everyone for the first hour or so of class until, eventually, everyone either left of officially tuned me out with their headphones. At that point I was able to be mentally alone and focus in on the task at head, my artwork. The same principle rings true for almost any artistic task I try to tackle. Being here in the ridiculously communal atmosphere of YWAM has definitely confirmed my original hunch. It’s near impossible for me to get away and be alone with my thoughts. Unfortunately, this lack of personal alone time has led to my lack of desire to blog or take photographs. The best tool to combat this issue has been my own headphones and music to drown out all the distractions and noise.

I think I’ll have to stop at this place for now but even now I’m only just beginning to realize that’s there’s so much more to this whole “art” thing for me. It’s not just another casual pass time or hobby. It’s really at the core of who I am. I enjoy it more than anything else (I might have to make an exception for horchata and Mexican food though)! And this isn’t something I talk about lightly. I still have to figure out what career path I am willing to walk down.

Do I get a degree in marketing? Communication? Teaching? Art?

Nothing’s for certain at this point. But one thing I do know, there’s always going to be beautiful art in my future.

So considering this blog Part I of a larger discussion/explanation of my love affair with creativity and art and how that might play out over my life.