Become a Practicing Artist

At heart, everyone's an artist. In practice, of course, this is not so. You may be surprised to learn that, despite your artistic endeavors, you are not an artist, not a practicing artist at any rate.

Art is loyalty to the spontaneity of your individuality. It's expressed through action. It may nod to conventions, but it doesn't bend to them. A practicing artist is one who structures life through the creativity of individual impulse and inclination. A homemaker who loves what he or she does is a practicing artist, so is a mechanic and a farmer if they structure their lives according to their natural feelings. Whereas, a writer or a painter may not be practicing artists even if they get paid for their work. There are plenty of professional "artists" whose inclinations lie in other areas but they're too scared to pursue those inclinations. They are engaging in creativity, to be sure, but it's not art.

You have your individuality for a reason. It's meant to guide you. A practicing artist knows this, and doesn't limit the areas in which this individuality is expressed. In illustration, you may love to stay up until the wee hours of the night and wake up late. You may have spent your entire adult life trying to rid yourself of this "bad habit." However, if you trust yourself, as a practicing artist, you'll structure your life to accommodate the fact that you love to stay up late and not try to deny your own nature. Believe it or not, you love to stay up late for a reason. A practicing artist understands that inclinations are a language meant to be spoken through action. The more one acquiesces to this living language, the greater the quality of expression.

Contrary to popular notions, if you don't repress them, your individual impulses will always breed moderation, kindness, and pleasure. They are a symbol of your individuality, and at the heart of art itself. Disregard them, and you put yourself at risk.

All people want three things: love, challenge, and freedom. Individuality constitutes the unique way in which you achieve these fundamentals. Art happens when you heed your individuality and express your true impulses and inclinations in the face of cultural norms which may or may not be supportive. A practicing artist, then, is attuned to the fine art of living whose means are limitless but whose source is constant. You are the art you produce, and your life is an extension of that art. In light of this fact, "Know thyself" was never a more important phrase.

S.C. Giles is a contributing author of The Artrepreneur E-Zine and newsletter.

The Artrepreneur offers articles helping artists focus on proven techniques to accomplish any goal. Read More: http://www.theartrepreneur.com

Copyright © 2005 Arctic Mouse, Inc. All rights reserved.

More Resources

Pheromones Myth or Fact. Do Pheromones Work?
I did a quick search on the Internet for pheromones.Pheromones are chemicals released by an organism into its environment enabling it to communicate with other in its own species.
The Power of Focusing on What Vs. How
We see it and do it enough times to know just how it works. Resolutions are set, goals written down, strategic action plans put in place.
How to Take Control of Your Self Confidence
If you think success, happiness and love are going to happenwithout learning through mistakes along the way you are mistaken.Our brains are wired to learn from our own experiences as well asthose of others.
Opportunity Knocks 1000 Times
You've heard people say that opportunity only knocks once. I say it knocks a thousand times, or at least it can.
Manifest Your Dreams
For each of us, the universe is different. A homeless man may view the universe as unfair, hard and tough.
What Is Your Legacy?
During a recent speech, I told the audience that my mission was to empower the self-employed to succeed. Instantly a hand shot up in the audience.
What Did You Want To Be When You Grew Up
When I was seven years old I wanted to be an author. Not a writer, but an author.
Doing Your Lifes Work
Most people want to do their life's work. Some people are able to separate work completely from life and be happy doing anything, but this is not the norm.
Is Effortless Prosperity Really Possible?
Dear friends,Whenever I read the words "effortless prosperity" a chain reaction of thoughts immediately starts in my mind. I ask myself these questions.
Be Not Afraid of Greatness
Have you noticed how the workplace seems to be a little more stressful if not downright hostile, how each day you feel a little more reluctant to get out of bed to go to a job you don't really like. Have you noticed how the workday seems a little longer and the job a little less fulfilling.
I Believe In Man
I have a deep and abiding belief that there lies within every person the capacity for greatness. I don't mean the old adage that you can become anything you want to be -- I'm more receptive to Peter F.
The Self Appreciation Enhancer
Very often when you are talking to people what you really want deep down is to feel significant, liked and important. Consequently you watch what you are saying and are careful not tosay the wrong thing.
Breaking News: The Answer May Not Be In The Infomercial Financial Course
The other night, leg cramps kept me up at night so I found myselfwatching these various couples discuss their success over buyinga Real Estate course in this infomercial, at 2AM.The evidence that people are purchasing these "Sudden Wealth"programs are right there on the television screen in front of me.
Your Mind is a Battlefield
Every person should enjoy life in abundance and prosperity, but unfortunately, too many of God's people are living way below their potential. So many have health issues, broken relationships, and/or no money in their bank account.
Small Steps And Golden Stones
It was a long walk but someone had to do it. And today it was upto Tori to carry the water from the river, through the fieldsand across the valley, back to the camp.
How Do You Treat Others?
When others are angry with you, loving to you, critical of you, and so on, do you treat them the same? We tend to treat others, except those in a position of authority or power over us, the same way they treat us.Let's say you enter a restaurant expecting great service and a tasty meal.
How To Use Affirmations To Create Prosperity?
Dear Internet friend. Each human being is an incrediblepiece of sowtware.
Secret of Wealth
"Before I had a lot of money, I was really quite happy," said Oprah Winfrey. "And I will tell you this--you may not believe it--I never would have gotten the money if I wasn't happy to begin with.
Courage To Be Someone New
Have you ever felt paralyzed or crippled by fear? As a businesswoman, producer, and model through my various business ventures, I've felt fearful from time to time. And I'm sure that, like me, you've found that you can accomplish little when you're afraid -- and almost nothing if you let fear of what might happen seize you.
The Principle of Abundance
One of the first great things I learned when starting my business, is that there are two ways of thinking. You can believe that there is more than enough business to go around or you can have the scarcity mentality.

More Attraction Information:

Related Articles

You Cant Direct the Wind but You Can Adjust the Sails
Dear Friend,First of all, let's take a look at the meaning of the word "metamorphosis" and how it can possibly be of interest to IT Service Management. Metamorphosis: Noun (plural metamorphoses - say metuh´mawfuhseez) ? "the change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation; the structural or functional modification of a plant organ or structure during its development.
Body Language
Body language is fascinating. People rarely recognize how much information they give off and how noticeable it is to the human eye.
Change Your Mind, Shift Your Life
Everyone can draw from the Universal Reserve Bank. What is it, you ask?It has taken me years of inner searching to realize the answer!I have come to believe each human being is wealthy.
How To Bypass Your Conscious Mind and Program Yourself For Success
Emile Coué, the French psychotherapist once said: "When theimagination and will power are in conflict, are antagonistic, itis always the imagination which wins, without any exception."Then you can program yourself for success by understanding thepower of imagination.
Universal Law
Have you ever had "one of those days" when absolutely everything goes wrong? Have you ever wondered why some people are successful, while others spend their entire lives struggling? Do you ever get the feeling that someone is out to get you because everything you touch goes wrong?If you're like most people, these thoughts do occur to you from time to time. But what is the answer to these questions? Is it a question of luck, could it be fate or is there something else going on here of which most people are unaware?The answer is both all around us and within us, and is called Universal Law.
What Goes Around, Comes Around
My Assignment ... If You Didnt Create It, Then Its Not Yours!
Life consists of lessons. Living is continual learning.
Feng Shui with Style! Working with Your Element Type
When you begin to study feng shui, you quickly realize the importance of the qualities and characteristics of the five feng shui elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This knowledge is essential to selecting appropriate colors, furnishings, and accessories for your home.
Follow Your Passion
The key to a successful life lies in following your passions. When you do this the Universe responds in a dynamic way.
Creating Your Own Destiny
If you don't know where you are going, you won't know how to get there. How can you get a sense of purpose or meaning in life unless you have dreams or visions of what you want to achieve? Goals are dreams with deadlines, which propel you on your journey of self-discovery and self-achievement.
Abundance Flourishes in an Atmosphere of Integrity
There's no way to fake INTEGRITY. You are either are IN INTEGRITY offering a PURE positive vibration which the Law of Attraction responds to.
Security Is An Inside Job
While I was growing up, my dad repeatedly told me that when I completing my schooling, I needed to get a good job. In fact, I should try to land some sort of good paying job, preferably one that was done indoors.
Basic Intuitive Timing for Business and Life
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries." [William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar]It has been said many times that timing is everything.
You Teach People How to Treat You
So often we hear people ask the question, "Why does he/she/they treat me/us so badly?". The honest answer, in most cases, is "Because you let him, her or they!"If that seems too simple an answer, think of it this way.
Better Than a Million Dollar Lottery Win
Do you remember the feeling of seeing someone you were attracted? It makes the heart bump, doesn't it?Have you ever stood on stage in front of a sea of faces that you know well and pulled out your notes to make a speech? Boy does the vibration of shaking liven you up!Have you ever felt the breeze on your face, either during a hot-air balloon ride or by sticking your head through the car sunroof? It wakes your senses up, doesn't it?And on a scale of 1-10 how much does your heart bump, body shake and senses wake when you do your day job? I bet you can practically do the tasks with your eyes shut. In fact I bet there are days when you feel like you did have your eyes shut?Most people don't feel awakened by their day jobs.
Jerry Green's Top Ten Adversity Busters
I've navigated plenty of speed bumps on life's road. My father's death led me to an entirely different career than my planned one.
Appreciation Attracts Prosperity
Did you know that appreciation is one of the most powerful forces in the Universe for manifesting and attracting prosperity? According to teachers like L. Ron Hubbard (father of Dianetics), Abraham-Hicks and Drunvalo Melchizedek, appreciating yourself and your life can literally boost you to the highest vibrations.
Rising Above the Average
There is nothing more motivating than reading a story about someone who comes from a poor, difficult life and rises above it to do so much with their life. Reading about a person who had so many obstacles in their way and they overcame them to be the most incredible people.
How to Make Self-Improvement Work Every Time!
There is an inherent problem with the approach most people take to self-improvement of any kind. There is a presupposition that there is something wrong that needs fixing.
The Metrosexual Male vs. The Cowboy - What Do Women Want?
He always looks perfectly put together. He can be in a t-shirt and jeans or heading out to a black-tie event.