chasing_creativity_man_balloons_ocean-TWO_2

Chasing Creativity – Part 2

by with One Comment Creativity
Read: Part 1

A New Start

I knew just printing signs wasn’t my calling. I had been working extremely long hours and tasks became repetitive. I saw the laughable overpriced artwork ad agencies were sending our way to print and knew I could easily do ten times better. But the opportunity to do so came far and few in my new duties at the company.

I described the artist’s dream here, which was meant to be a prelude to this part, but it became so lengthy it deserved an article on its own.

This is why I took the bold step to start freelancing. I lacked motivation and inspiration in my now repetitive job and I always dreamt of growing my own art studio; this was simply the first step, in my mind.

I always knew I would start my own studio eventually. Feeling stagnant in the sign company, I didn’t feel like there was much more out there for me to accomplish elsewhere, since I temporarily worked in and interacted with other companies for my boss at times.

I got offers elsewhere when some found out I was leaving the company, but it felt like it was time to venture on my own.

Boy was I naive.

Financial Burdens

I wish I could say the rest is history and I was successful at starting my art studio, accomplishing x, y and z, but things didn’t pan out as expected.

Starting a studio required much more than I initially thought. One is a clear plan of execution since I was figuring out a lot along the way. As previously mentioned if I had a guiding light in the form of a mentor or even a family member, even in the slightest, things might have turned out differently I believe. It’s important to note that I’m not attempting to shift blame for the challenges I faced; I fully acknowledge that ultimate responsibility lies with me.

The second was financial stability. I don’t come from money, nor do I have any substantial savings. All the money I earned went back into my business.

Struggling financially ever since I started on my own, my goals fell further and further away. I struggled with various challenges continuously. Some are still persistent to this day. 

It is what it is.

Off Track

I even lost my passion and vision for some years, actually. The impulsive behaviour to draw, and design died away slowly. I was reluctant to do anything that wasn’t financially beneficial because it felt like I was wasting time. A behaviour imposed onto me by some people around me who didn’t understand my vision and saw me struggling.

Creating just for fun felt guilty.

Back on Track

Thankfully, if you want to look at it like this, through failed business ventures, partnerships, and otherwise I find myself rekindling my dreams once again, almost like finding that lost book, comic, movie, game or toy you had as a child.

So many memories and ideas are coming back to me, reminding me of what I felt back when things were simpler, what I dreamt of doing and what I set out to do.

Support

Over the years, I had time to iron out major wrinkles, and looking back now, I’m almost kind of glad things didn’t work out as expected. I probably wouldn’t have had such a bold conviction to pursue my grand dream as I do now.

A lot of baggage in the form of experiences and people who were beyond negative, fearful and uninspiring have now disappeared. A great deal has changed and the people around me now are my rock, my peace and part of my motivation. Something I lacked before.

Keep Moving Forward

Looking back I realise I didn’t lose complete sight of the vision, even with the failed ventures, they were more or less along the same lines. It was as though I was still working towards the dream subconsciously, just not with the same outcome in mind.

Everything is clearer, now that I’ve accomplished so much in my time off-course. Many fears and uncertainties have vanished because I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in my field, that I simply didn’t have before.

With my refound purpose, realigning with my dreams as I embark on this path I can’t help but quote the great and wise Buzz Lighter restarting this journey, “to infinity and beyond”.

artist-dreaming-while-writing

The Artist’s Dream

by with No Comment Perspective

True artists simply cannot shut off what they desire to do. It’s almost like a requirement to survive, an urge that needs to be satisfied. Even if it means embracing the label of a “starving artist”, a term thrown around for those who haven’t found a substantial way to earn a livelihood off their aspirations. They are willing to endure hardship, and “starve” even, just to pursue their passion.

Every Artist’s Dream

Artists I believe, love when others appreciate their work in some way or the other. Some may pretend not to, but deep down inside, the littlest of appreciation goes an incredibly long way.

If not checked properly, it can even become an addiction.

Labour of Love

A “Labour of love” refers to work or effort undertaken not for financial gain or obligation, but out of passion, enjoyment, or a deep personal commitment.

It’s usually associated with the artist’s dedication to their creations or the outcomes of their endeavours and is sometimes incomprehensible to many. I don’t think true artists at heart really focus on the monetary value of their efforts as much. 

At their core, an artist’s dream is wanting their work to be seen, consumed or appreciated in any way by as many as possible. They want to make the most impact, even inspire. Some want to change things, break the rules, redefine them, be disruptive; become legends.

The Problem with Artists

To achieve notoriety, recognition, appreciation or what you want to call it, from the widest audience possible, takes a great deal.

The first challenge is usually the inspiration to create, and after that monumental hurdle, there’s the balance of life and the time to execute, along with the energy and will to complete to satisfaction.

Depending on the size of the dream as well, the next gargantuan hurdle that can make or break the execution is the financial ability to see it to the end.

This has been the biggest challenge with many artists who dream big. Regardless of the field, every artist would love enough funding or financial stability to survive and pursue their passion.

However, at times, there are bad apples or bad actors who, when they’ve found a source of funding, can misuse, abuse or not utilise this opportunity to the full extent. Some have talent but lack management skills. Some aren’t true artists and succumb to the allure of a large sum of money, which leaves many to doubt artists’ potential.

It’s usually why artists are typically portrayed as wild cards, unreliable, or polarizing in narratives. In some circles or situations being referred to as an artist can be a negative thing.

An Artist’s Vision

It’s not always clear what motivates an artist to do what they do. As important as wanting to create, they need motivation, either in the form of inspiration, a drive or a muse.


If an artist loses their immense motivation along the way for whatever reasons, they would rather the dream die than see it in the hands of another or see it mutate into something it wasn’t intended for.

A good example of this is movie studios where executives meddle with the director’s vision for a movie. In nine out of ten cases, this meddling results in significant disappointment, reshoots, failure, or loss, emphasising the delicate balance between artistic integrity and external influence.  One out of ten times it falls terribly short of the success it was meant to be.

It’s never a good thing when others meddle with an artist’s vision.

What to do

Artists just have to do what they have to do, and it’s a gamble really. There’s no other way to put it. There’s no playbook or guaranteed formula for success. Sometimes it can be a monumental failure, sometimes it can be a tremendous success. That’s the life of an artist.

All artists have is their dream, their will, and their burning desire to make it extraordinary, great even. Everything else is left up to…