Honoring Your Art . . .

Well, that wasn’t a long lunch at all.

But the amount of processing I have been doing since last we spoke is truly amazing. I needed to think through some things, and am still thinking through some things, and I will share that which will be of any interest to you.

I read an article recently about whether having a day job that has nothing to do with art, is a better thing for your art, than having a “day job” that is about art.

Go ahead and read that again. I’ll wait.

I know that many of you work all day at a “job” that is completely removed from your creative activities. You can hardly wait to get home for the evening, or for the weekend, to jump into your artistic endeavors. You may even dream of quitting that day job so you can devote yourself full time to creating.

And I know that others of you have no day job and make your living from your art in one way or another.

I fall into the second category. I have not had a “job” since I was a youngster. That has been wonderful.

But, there is a downside.

Sometimes, when you create for a living, there is no creative energy left at the end of the day to apply to the art of your soul. The art you do for you.

When I share favorite artists with you on Sundays over coffee, you may have noticed a theme. The art I most admire is that which has obviously taken huge devotion of time and energy. Think of the book carvings, etc.

I have a friend who is a fabulous artist, and who explores different media. I don’t mean in the slap-dash way that the magazines are full of – I mean she really EXPLORES the media. For example, when she became interested in oil painting, she learned to stretch her own canvas and make her own traditional gessoes and pigments. She would then disappear into her studio for days, not hours, and emerge with the awesome work that devotion produces. And, a big smile of satisfaction. (Yes, Judy,  am talking about you!)

I long for that kind of time to allow that kind of devotion. Over the past two weeks, I have allowed myself a little. I loved getting lost in the art process.

And it came to me when I had time to think, that I am one of the FEW artists I know who does not have a personal website for my art. Just never been time to create one.

So, I decided it’s time, and I created one. It is not finished – only the jewelry link works right now – but if I wait to share until everything is ready, it never will be. These types of websites are works-in-progress that are never really finished anyway.

I will be adding a photography gallery, of course, and paintings, journal spreads, handmade books, and who knows what else. It will be about what I produce when left to my own meanderings. Some things will be for sale, some only for show because they sold already, or will never be for sale.

I struggled with how “serious” I wanted the website to feel, and with making it uber-simple. I have a strong “whimsy” component to most of what I do, but I do take my personal art very seriously, as “cute” as it may be sometimes.

I’d like your feedback on whether the website fits my personality, and as a reward, you get to see a few pieces of the new jewelry! Click on Jewelry, and then Sterling Silver Collection.

Here’s the link:

http://jessicawesolek.com

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

22 thoughts on “Honoring Your Art . . .

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