A note to late arriving artist/makers-to-be

For those who come late to creative pursuits, know that you may be a while in becoming consumed by the ravenous hunger to make. The years of accumulated cruft from living a “muggles” life take time to dissolve. At first, your vision will be blurry. Practice.

Jump off a few cliffs. Pick yourself up and practice some more.

Be willing to do a few crazy things that you are sure can’t be for you. Practice things you have never done before. This is training for the life ahead.

Ask “Why not?” List your reasons, and then consider which are based only in fear. Then ignore those and practice some more.

Look. Listen. Go deep. Learn to be afraid, and to fail. It isn’t the end of the world, honest.

Know that people won’t get it at first, especially the more you are listening to your own voice. Keep going.

One of the best pieces of advice I got early on was from the owner of our studio building, though I don’t think she meant it as such. She noted that

“Most artists stop too soon, and give up.”

Don’t be that artist.