Avoiding Stagnant Water

Where did September and October go? In a few days, we’ll be saying good-bye to October and I’m still trying to remember what I did in September. Wasn’t it just a few days ago that I was complaining about the heat and humidity? (oh, yeah I was in Houston when I did that?) Anyway, I’m sure you know what I mean.

As part of my involvement with Artist Alley, I volunteer one day a month to work as a salesclerk. Yesterday was that day. As I walked in the Alley, I realized that I still didn’t photograph the lovely window display Jean and Kathy put together. For the month of October, Kathy and I were the featured artists and shared the honor of having the window to display our wares.

With my busy schedule this month, I didn’t have the time to appreciate this honor. Its a step in my career. A footnote to remind me I’m on the right path. How many people can say they are working in a profession they love? How many people have the support I do from a loving husband who puts up with my dreams?

While I was working yesterday, I met someone who kept referring to herself as a starving artist. What I saw different about this person, was the lack of passion in her voice. She didn’t speak of the passionate desire to create. For me, its not so much the desire to sell my stuff…but the desire to create. I HAVE to create.  I sell my work…because I make too much. I need a venue to feed the creative genie living in me. When the genie isn’t fed, she becomes unhappy. I can only make so much. I cannot afford to make things and give them away. I must at least re-coop my expenses of this habit. So selling my work provides the outlet to create for a reason. The creative genie is happy and the checkbook stays in the black. My home isn’t cluttered with stuff…well, Ok that’s not true.

I have a passion that needs an outlet. Maybe that is why I’ll  never call myself a starving artist. I will find a way to make money to support my habits, and I will continue to create, because I have to. There’s a passion that’s found in a true artist. You hear it in their voices. Even when they don’t have the confidence about their own work, they still have the passion.

The passion forces the waters of creativity to flow. Water needs to move to hold oxygen, to stay clean and support life. I avoid stagnant water… its foul.  Create I must and create I do for I have a passion for my art.