One of the amazing things I got from my trip to Brazil was this certainty the universe has a plan, an order, a purpose. As an artist, one of the hardest parts of the process has been to find my voice, my path. As I perused amazing artists whose work I admire, a lot of them wrote about a similar topic: what was the mission and purpose of their art.
Alisa Burke wrote about it back in 2006. Way before she became a respected well know mixed media artist. She expressed her sense of loss, of purpose, and the meaning of her art beyond herself, money, and recognition.
Then recently, I got Connie's, from Dirty Footprint Studio, newsletter and there it was again. Her blog post, titled Why Am I Doing This, eloquently explored the art world as male, product centric and how this model is not, a lot of times, nurturing to women. Because like Connie says, we see and relate to the world differently than men.
These women materialized the feeling I have been having on how life, desires, dreams, plans all unfold in their own time. The heart's desire translates into the motion of the universe, but in the universe's own time. Not ours.
When I decided to start a blog, I had no idea what it would be. I played with different titles, pretty much rehashing my favorite bloggers. But when I did that, It just felt inorganic, fake. So, IA was born. Born out of my own inadequacy to fit in a cookie cutter society.
Sure Paulo Coelho wrote that "When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it." However, he forgot to write the universe has its own schedule. Thus, don't let the heart shriver.
I want to live for the journey, not the destination.
63 comments:
Oh Ana - I hear ya! Great post. I've been writing a book for yearsssss!!
It's enough to know the Universe is directing our path, laying people and circumstances before us. Trust and we'll get there.
Love LOVE your elephant stamp! You got talent girl!
Living for the journey makes life more interesting and fulfilling, I think. Love those delightful elephant stamps!
Oi Ana, adorei seu post, profundo e poético e o seu carimbo de elefante está maravilhoso!
Eu também busco minha linguagem na arte, embora não seja uma artista, estudo artes plásticas, pois adoro.
Tenho uma predileção por desenho, aquarela e pastel seco. Por enquanto o trabalho me consome muito, embora eu também ame o que faço. Acabo unindo as coisas quando utilizo as técnicas de arte-terapia com os pacientes. Mas tenho o sonho de ter tempo para me dedicar mais à arte.
Bjs e ótimo fim de semana
Oh my gosh...I just love your elephant stamp! Ms. Elephant just looks so bold and confident---sashaying through the world, sure of her place in it. You really have a gift, Ana, to be able to convey that in a stamp.
Ah! Adorei os blogs das artistas que você menionou.
Bjs
Love that stamp also ... I know you are right about the journey ... but lately I'm getting very impatient ... I work on that but it's taking way too long ... I think it's ok to get frustrated and to feel those feelings ... I just try to to keep them and let them go.
Love and light,
Jan
Wow, the elephant stamp is so intricate. It's fantastic. Finding our own style/purpose is al part of finding our unique self, which authentic art allows. It is an interesting journey, isn't it? :-)
Beautiful... beautiful post Ana... heartfelt and can so relate... thank you for the timely reminder that it IS all about the journey... your hand carved stamp is AWESOME... intricate and gorgeous...
Happy weekend...
Jenny ♥
Wow! your stamp is so amazing! You have a really steady hand! My stamps always look very primitive...
Very interesting post Anna. Along the way of viewing your works and reading your words, it all became one journey with your words "cookie cutter." Your elephant stamps are awesome and they do look like cookie cutters. Hmmm, I like how you think. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.
Oh so true :) Life is a journey, not a destination! Most times it's hard to keep this in mind as we go through our days. Your elephants are delightful! I will second Boho mom "You got talent girl."
Love the stamps. I have never fit in with the cookie cutters:) B
Lovely quotes at the end and your elephants are beautiful. I think many artists are eccentrics, some more personable and appreciative than others. I think the best art comes from having lived in dark places (so to speak)...and then again, art is subjective, so basically this is just how *I* feel. :)
Love the elephant stamp! Your post is very thought provoking! I think my path has been meandering for years! Maybe some day I'll get to my destination!
wonderful post my dear and the stamp is great, I can see him in future creations. My path? Oh my goodness it just wanders and wanders and you would think at my age it should be somewhere. Maybe soon oxo
Your elephant is lovely! And very similar to what I am thinking about for my elephant painting (I'm secretly hoping my husband brings me home something with an elephant on it from India!) So, I usually try to keep my blogs separate, but I JUST wrote something yesterday about this very thing (http://thefitadventure.blogspot.com/2012/12/crown-jewels.html) and I would just be repeating myself otherwise.
This is what I am supposed to do. If I'm not as good or accepted, or whatever, well, I guess that's the way it is. Van Gogh didn't sell a single piece in his lifetime. That makes all of us who have sold anything MORE successful now in our living art career than Van Gogh was. ;)
Love that stamp!!! -nice details! what did you carve out the stamp from? Ah yes, you are so right, the universe has its own schedule!
This is an interesting post. I suppose I think the point (one of them) of us being here is to individuate & you are definitely an individual! And the journey never ends, really. Never.
Also, I love the elephant stamp too. So wonderful. Now I want to make some stamps. ;)
I'm with you. Looks like you have a great direction to your work with plenty of personality. What kind if material are your super amazing stamps made out of?
Wowwww! Lindo post! inspirador! besos y gracias!
This is very timely for me! Not just for my artistic self, but for other aspects of life too. Am at crossroads, and am trying figure some tough things out. This is a good reminder! Thank you.
And I LOVE that elephant!
Those are gorgeous!
a cookie cutter society... such a marvelous allegory...
and i gaze at your elephant, and think. girl! you've arrrived. destination is here (even while favouring the path). your words make me wonder about my own path, and it is true. stay close to yourself, and create. for me, feed back is invaluable too. creating is kind of a community, but i can see it could be different to many creators, which is the confirmation of us being all different cookies...
n♥
That's the hardest and most interesting part of being an artist! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and showing the elephant stamps - they are great!
Love, love, love the elephant!! So true what you write and also that on this great journey we met simular people with somehow same visions and passions! And you really get another look at life and our beautiful world.
I think many of us have the 'Destination Mentality'. When I reach this ...... things will be fabulous. Once I have done .......my life will be happier. This is fatal thinking, as it keeps us out of the present and always chasing something unreachable and never experiencing the 'Journey'. Living in the moment takes practice and determination but once you achieve it life is incredibly rich and everything unfolds as it is meant to.
Your elephant is Beautiful!
wow, they look really nice!
So much here so truly resonates with me. I - too - read Connie's post over at Dirty Footprints nodding my head in agreement. And - I just love this elephant stamp you've created here. Reminds me of Ganesha - and the possibility of all things new.
Beautiful post from beginning to end. Art and words. I think, that because you ARE an introvert (and I love your definition of that word) that you're able to hear what it is you desire...and the Universes' answer.
Oh my, Ana! I LOVE this post! This is what I have been feeling lately, even last week when I wrote that at ~ 50 years old, I am finally discovering my Self and the universal truths...in time...with patience and perseverance...and most importantly, with faith that this Universe will encourage us as it is time. Aaaah. It is actually somewhat of a relief! Ana, I LOVE your handcarved, stamped red and blue elephants. LOVE. Thank you for the beauty you give to our universe. ~ kath
Your elephants are très élégant!
You may have felt inorganic and fake, but you were just testing the waters and finding your own way. People copy to learn, that's what the masters did. They copied each others styles. We do the same, we admire and try what they did.
Eventually, we take in all we've learned. And there we are in full light.
What's terrible about the internet is that some people copy with the intent to sell someone else's ideas as their own.
I think you've been on your own unique path all along. It's just becoming more apparent in your own eyes.
Love your art and this post, Ana! No need to be part of a cookie cutter society when you enjoy walking to the beat of your own drum. You have a unique voice and it should be heard. I think the fact that you are an introvert is a huge contributor to this.
Ana, you always express my own internal struggles so eloquently, as if you're reading my mind...I relate to all of what you say. And your elephant is absolutely fantastic...love!
Life is very much a journey, and who/what we are when we reach that final destination is the summation of our Life's experiences.
There is something to learn and/or experience every day. We just need to be tuned in.
I love your work.
~shoes~
Hi Ana good to read your posts again. And I can't believe this, I was also sketching an indian elephant this morning. Was in India and got some amazing prints and one was the elephant's.
Great stamp you created out of it. The details have come out so well.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Susan
hello Ana, thank you for your thoughtful comment over on my blog. I love your Indian elephant stamp! nice to meet another seeker and dog lover! Heather x
I like the elephant stamp
amen! but, it is a little scary to step onto that journey path and not take the safe path to that destination.... i keep wondering if there is a more fulfilling life for us. one that is more purposeful and suited to what we actually want. there have also been signs recently about the "burned out employee" and whether they should be staying in their job- were they actually and directly speaking to me?!....great post!
I am a journey lover, too.
Your comment "art world as male, product centric and how this model is not, a lot of times, nurturing to women" definitely resonates with me.
wonderful elephant!
An introvert is one who energizes by being alone. (not a negative thing as some people may think)
enjoying the journey is a grand life philosophy! i strive for this. your stamp carving is intricate, and fascinating. :)
That's the hard part to remember sometimes, that the Universe has its own schedule!
Your artistic elephant stamp is simply fab! Love love love it!!!
I love your title! so honest....
Thank you for your comment on my blog because now I have found you too and I am glad because you do have a special talent....
bestest daisy x
Lovely post Ana. So well written and beautifully illustrated. Your ideas resonate with me, as my personal motto has long been that it is the journey that is the prize.
Your elephant stamps are breathtakingly wonderful.
wow just gorgeous.
ManonX
Lovely post........blogs do seem to have minds of their own!
Ruby
Beautiful stamps! I think God is always more concerned with the journey rather than the destination.
I want to live for the journey, but the destination. I LOVE this quote. And I love this blog :)
Ana, I think many artists can relate to your story here.
BTW, your elephant stamp is so beautiful!
I think it's important to be true to yourself and follow the road ,who knows what our destinations are... have fun & enjoy the journey. Your elephant stamps are gorgeus!
The Elephant Stamps that you made are so exquisite ! I have a wooden elephant stamp , very much like yours that I purchased from a hand made shop. Will showcase in my blog soon ! And this post is so beautiful, Being able to find one's place in this world filled with confusion and drama is indeed very empowering !
take care,dear friend !
Oh goodness, what a beautiful blog you have and such lovely posts. This particular post is gorgeous! I am so happy you visited so that I may discover your work and words. : )
Beautiful post.
I hope you feel that you have or are about to find your path.
Your elephant stamp is so amazing!
Ana, such true, clear words. For those of us non-product centric individuals, enjoying the road we are on, you are such good company : )
XXO
Lynn
Oh, and what ink is that?
I just wanted to thank you for returning the visit. I would love to become your newest follower if I may?
~Keith
You nailed it. Your journey is your own, a genuine one, and it shows in everything you write and make here.
Beautiful elephants :)
How cool, great carving the elephant looks wonderful.
Right now I am still trying to figure out why I am doing what Im doing, whats the purpose and trying not to think of financial side as a stay at home mom! I LOVE Alisa Burke!!! She is a huge inspiration! Im so glad you commented on my blog.
Women really do relate to the world differently than men. So true. That the universe has its own schedule it something I’ve struggled with because my life has not gone as I had hoped it would. Still, I try to keep looking forward because living for the journey is really what it’s all about. Like your colorful elephants!
40 years ago a male art professor told me that he felt sorry for female artists. He said the art worl was not designed for women. I didn't think too much of it at the time but having read your comment I can tell it is already something I will need to mull over. Interesting!
greetings from brussels
I can relate to this post in so many ways. Indeed, what you´ve written can be applied to our entire life (and not only as women and artists). Finding our voice and follow our path is not easy and develop our true purpose takes time, but if we focus on this, the universe will give us all we need to unfold it... but maybe this won´t be what we expect.
You´re being true to yourself and you´re doing it pretty well, your art is unique, and so you are
Beautiful post - the evolution of the stamps parallels nicely with your words. I have never really truly thought what is the purpose of my art but I have felt that if I don't do it, I would die inside. I believe in fate and in chance and we don't always know how our are will manifest. I'm glad you made this blog:) Thanks, Introvert! xoxo
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