Creatives out there, when was the moment you began to see yourself as an artist? For me, it wasn’t my first sale, nor was it the first time creating something I genuinely loved. Finally seeing myself as an artist can be summed up in a very specific, very simple moment. A friend of mine gave me a look that fell somewhere between shock and admiration and said “Wow, you said you were going to create that, and then you did it.”

See, this is what artists do. They have a vision, and then they bring that vision to life. But in order to do that, the artist must have faith in themself. There’s something to be said for that ability, the ability to imagine something and then at will make it a reality, but it doesn’t always happen that way. There’s a dark side to being artist, and that’s doubt—doubt that is birthed from failure or even fear of failure. When I learned to push through that and keep going even on the days when everything I created ended up in the trash—that is when I not only saw myself as an artist but truly became an artist.

Becoming an artist doesn’t happen overnight. Ironically, it doesn’t happen when we create art, sell art, or even fall in love with art. Becoming an artist takes place in the relentlessness of a creative’s spirit. It happens in the disappointments, the failures, the challenges. It happens when we throw something away we just spent hours on and then the next day decide to pick back up the paint brush. It happens when we choose to authentically express ourselves over producing what makes the most money. It happens when the freedom in self expression begins to outweigh the fear of what others will think. Becoming an artist happens when we choose faith and perseverance in the face of failure and doubt.

“Becoming an Artist” is an abstract floral oil pastel painting that almost ended up in the trash. It was created on a day nothing seemed to be coming together the way I envisioned. I had given myself over to the fact that it was probably going in the trash, but for whatever reason, I decided I would take a step back from it and revisit it later. A week or two went by, and I decided to pick back up the painting. By the end of it all, I realized this “piece of trash” was actually one of my favorite creations. This painting was created from faith, and it was in those moments of seeing it come to completion, I realized I was truly an artist.

“Becoming an Artist” comes in a gorgeous golden 11×14” Victorian frame matted to 8×10” and is available in my Etsy Shoppe and EBay Store.

kamillestreasures.etsy.com

eBay.com/usr/kamillegrace16

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When did you become an artist?

When did you refuse to quit?

When did your faith outweigh your doubt?

When did you commit?

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The faith you have in yourself

isn’t always clear.

This faith can be hidden for a time,

by shame, doubt, or fear.

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But it’s faith that keeps you moving

when nothing else does.

It’s faith that finally made me an artist,

and what a gift it was.