Ep 8. Yes, You’re An Artist Welcome to Mind Your Practice. I am here to tell you that yes, you’re an artist. And yes, absolutely, you ought to keep making your work.
Ep 8. Yes, You’re An Artist
Welcome to Mind Your Practice. I’m Beth Pickens and in this episode, I am here to tell you that yes, you’re an artist. And yes, absolutely, you ought to keep making your work.
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Thanks for listening to Mind Your Practice and be sure to subscribe so you get all the bonus episodes coming your way. Want more homework and support for your creative practice? Join Homework Club where you’ll get monthly homework, workshops, live QnA's, and an accountability pod, hand chosen by me. Go to bethpickens.com to learn more. You can find me on Instagram at @bethpickensconsulting. Thanks for listening and keep making art.
Mind Your Practice is created by Beth Pickens and Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs.
Ep 8. Yes, You’re An Artist
Welcome to Mind Your Practice. I’m Beth Pickens and in this episode, I am here to tell you that yes, you’re an artist. And yes, absolutely, you ought to keep making your work.
*****
Hello artists. Many years ago, as I was forming my consultation practice, I considered the identity label artist. Who or what was an artist, really? This was a central question for me because I knew in my gut that artists were the population I wanted to serve and work with so I wanted to sort through my understanding of what fundamentally makes a person an artist and what that could mean for our work together.
I wrestled with the label in conversation with the artists all around me, observing their lives, reading memoirs and biographies, and listening intently to messages about their experiences, fears, and dreams. What I came to understand was this: Artists are people who are profoundly, deeply compelled to make their creative work. For artists, I realized, a creative practice was an essential way they could take care of themselves, how they could communicate and connect. Mostly everyone benefits from creative expression, but I understood that artists require it in order to have a fully realized life.
Having this working definition helped me build a framework of serving artists. A central insight is that artists benefit tremendously from an on-going, ever-strengthening relationship to a creative practice. We can build so much on top of that foundation.
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Why did I land on artists, specifically? I suppose I could have worked with any population, other demographics or professions. Artists, though, I love artists. I can’t say it enough - you’re my favorite people! You and your work make life better. Past, present and future artists make me want to live and you deepen my human existence. That’s a big deal. It might sound corny or even melodramatic but it’s true! I love you! You are really important! Knowing that you may listen to this and then get to work on your practice makes me calm, like something is right in the world.
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Many times, artists tell me they’re not sure they are really an artist. This statement is often coupled with a period of estrangement from a project or a studio practice. Often it follows a series of professional disappointments or extended disillusionment with the world.
Sometimes, they even say that they don’t want to be an artist anymore. That it’s a burden and they want to be free of the compulsion or desire to make work. I get it. Artists are unusual workers in that you work jobs in order to make your work. That’s a lot of work! Other people, like me, don’t go to work after we finish our jobs. The truth is, I think artists can’t rid themselves of the compulsion to make creative work so we have to make peace with this reality and find a sustainable solution to have a manageable practice.
I suppose being an artist includes a healthy dose of acceptance. First, accepting that you are an artist and that making your work is going to be part of your life for the rest of your life. Stop battling it. Start creating pathways that work for your life as it is today.
If you’re tripping over the moniker artist, no fear. Just make your creative work this week. Sometimes it’s easier to do than to be.
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Ok, let’s talk about your homework.
Just for today, make artist a primary identity by calling yourself that. If someone asks you what you do, say I’m an artist. It doesn’t matter how you make money.
Next, however much time you plan to give to your creative practice this week, how about you tack on a little extra. Like you're tipping yourself with time.
Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear from you.
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Thanks for listening to Mind Your Practice and be sure to subscribe so you get all the bonus episodes coming your way. Want more homework and support for your creative practice? Join Homework Club where you’ll get monthly homework, workshops, and an accountability pod, hand chosen by me. Go to bethpickens.com to learn more. You can find me on Instagram at @bethpickensconsulting. Thanks for listening and keep making art.
Mind Your Practice is created by Beth Pickens and Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs.