Secretly I would love to be labeled an “Artist!”

“True Art is characterized by the irresistible urge in the creative
artist” – Albert Einstein

This month we talk about art and technology.
First, I will reflect upon Art. I love it ! There – I said it. I have
been told I’m an artistic person as I love to create. Some of my
hobbies include pottery, encaustic and my new passion writing and
blogging. Having recently had some unexpected surgery, I was very
dismayed at having to cancel a one week encaustic course I had signed up
for several months ago at a local Elora studio. My doctor advised me a
week of bed rest. How does a mother of 2 kids who runs a household and
a new business lie down for a week ? Well in little bits here & there.

I was envisioning a luxurious week of pretending I was an “artist
working in the studio” as an escape from reality. I had participated
in such an event years ago and thought it one of the best things I’d
ever done. I’ve dabbled in the above encaustic and pottery and I would
love to live solely to create beautiful art that touches both the mind
and the soul. Secretly I would love to be labeled an “Artist” and
wonder what it would be like to have my pieces greatly sought after ?
Yet even now I am deeply attached to the few pieces I’ve created and am
not sure I could detach myself from them. My brother was once an
owner/operator of two fine art galleries – he had a talent of dealing
with the artist and knew how to successfully market and sell their wares
– a talented wheeler-dealer. So I’ve had the the opportunity to meet
quite a few talented artists along the way. I believe most artists may
share the paradoxical mind set of the above described detachment from
their pieces.

And Technology – unlike most people in this civilized world I recently
upgraded to my first fancyphone – as I like to call them – it came in
the mail a few weeks ago. How on earth will I learn to operate it is
yet another matter. I must say I love browsing the internet on
occasion, but to watch people walking across the street and texting – I
just don’t understand what is so important ? OMG I cannot believe how
cell phones are everywhere (guess I’m old school). I do have a cell
phone but ok, I admit I have have never ever texted in my life. What’s
a girl to do ? I need some training from my cousin’s son, who is 14,
he knows more about these smart phones than me. Is it a smart phone ?
Well it is smart looking for sure. Speaking of phones, my parents are
really old school. They were at the bank the other day and the teller
asked them for their email and they replied “we don’t have an email”, so
she asked for their cell phone number, they replied “we don’t have a
cell phone”. So she finally asked them if she could leave a message on
their home phone if she needed to. Well, you guessed it – “we don’t
have an answering machine” was my mothers reply. As she says, “we have
call display so I don’t need an answering machine !”.

I have a love / hate relationship with technology. I run an online
Label business which is hard to believe, given my technologically
challenged ways. This has been a “year of learning” for this girl. I
am finding I really like learning about this online business of mine and
about web sites, search engine optimization, Google analytics, PayPal,
E-checkes, Facebook, Social Media marketing and oh yes- labels too.
This last year has been one in which I’ve received a tremendous amount
of support and encouragement. My previous business advisor, Valerie,
at the Guelph Business Enterprise Centre told me starting a business is
really like having a baby. Since I am a new mother of 2 small children
that analogy really hit home. I can see how you need to have patience
as you enter new territory. You will have ups & downs, you will want to
reach under the covers and never come out, you will have amazing days
and wonder why you didn’t do this sooner. Oh I guess this is just like
riding the waves of life – it is what you make it.
Perhaps when I have some spare time again I will set up my own little art studio, turn the music
on and lose myself in creation. We all need to start with a dream !
What are you going to create today ?