December 19, 2011

To Blog or Not to Blog?

  Actually, there really isn't much question anymore as whether to blog or not. When I first started this, I really viewed it as purely an online journal that I could use to keep track of my artwork and some random thoughts alongside it. Because it's just been for me, I've kept it pretty private because I had no intention of really sharing it with anyone in particular. But as I've become more and more familiar with other artists' and friends' blogs, I see how incredibly valuable it is to share these things. I, like so many other artists, lack a creative community. I long for the days back in college when I would both dread and look forward to friday critiques and getting the competitive feedback of my fellow students. I thrive on all things creative, and it breathes life into my entire self when I see it in other people's lives and work as well. I read through some of these blogs and I realize that I've been given an incredible gift. These people have invited me in and given me a window to see into a special part of their lives. I read the words from total strangers, and I so often I see myself. I recognize my own frustrations voiced by others. I see the same longing for inspiration, the thrill of the creative journey, and the simplistic joy in the beauty of a nice cup of tea and a piece of homemade pie. I love that blogging has given us a world where both the big and small things are put on pause for a moment, and given a place of importance. We notice things more I think when we become conscious of sharing it with others. And because of all these things, I've realized that I also want to have a voice in this creative community. I don't know exactly where it will lead, but that's part of the fun of it. I so long to be in an environment of people dedicated to expressing the things in their hearts, be it visual art, music, dance, writing, cooking, gardening, or flower arranging. Creativity is alive in all of us. This I know. And for myself, I know that that creative spirit is the substance of almost everything I want to do. So, I hope to find others both like me and different from me. I want to meet artists, but I'm also really hoping to meet those that long for creativity in their lives, but haven't quite found their avenue yet. I so want people to know that creativity is not just for the artists and the musicians. We are creative people, made in the image of a creative God, and if that desire is in your heart, then that means that there is a seed of creativity put there that is intended to be watered, and it will grow. I believe it with all my heart.