Hey Artist,
I *almost titled this email The Exact Formula to Find Your Art Style but that felt off today. I realized that you are probably sick of formulas and equations. Maybe I am too?
There has been this message bubbling up that I want to talk about lately and I haven't been able to find the exact words because I am still going through it. AND it feels a bit vulnerable and raw.
I have been in a creative funk lately. It's something that happens every so often as creatives. We look at the art that we have been making, and it doesn't seem to be working anymore.
Is it possible to outgrow our work? Or maybe it's just that my identity is changing and so my art needs to shift too?
I did something unusual the other day. I went back through my Instagram feed over that last few years.
Something really bizarre happened.
I felt a jealousy rise up inside of me. I actually looked at some of my older work and thought, WOW, I MADE THAT? I saw a freedom and a flow in my work that I missed and wanted to experience again.
I kept going back and thinking...
I don't even remember that painting. I need to make something like that again! That's seriously amazing.
What in the world was I doing?
Why did I stop making art like that?
How can I get back there?
I don't usually get so drawn to my older work like that. Usually when I look at older work, I think about how much I have gotten better as an artist!
AH, the life of an artist is so strange isn't it?
We are constantly looking to reinvent ourselves and find that expression that feels more like us in the moment.
So in the midst of looking at this older work, I started looking for the thread to follow.
How do I pull the thread of inspiration in order to ride the next wave of creativity?
What is that thread? Follow that thread.
And with that, sitting in the frustration and embracing the funk, I knew what I wanted for my next collection of work.
I thought that maybe if I shared this thought pattern, it might also inspire you to find clarity around the type of art that you really want to be creating. How do you make art that is YOU?
Maybe if you hear what goes on inside of my head, it will make you feel less alone?
Sometimes we all feel a little bit lost on this creative journey? Like, if only someone was with me and could take my hand and say, let's go this way?
This is why I do what I DO...
To make it easier for you to follow these threads.
Creativity is fluid. It's constantly shifting and changing.
We trust the process. And sometimes the process is more about becoming the best version of ourselves today. Not who we were yesterday. Or maybe returning back to who we were, but with a better upgrade?
I don't really know? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Oh, just an FYI... I created this YouTube about Making Art That You Love- Art Style Blueprint here. Kinda doesn't really fit the email. Or does it? Maybe it will give you clarity around what thread to follow?
Happy Painting!
Wendy Brightbill
P.S. I am having an April SALE for SPRING on one of my favorite courses, Sketches on Scraps. Get 40% OFF with coupon code: SPRING
