Love these reflections, Janet! & you are truly right! There is something about beginning something you don’t know and just do what you feel that almost forms you as an artist. It creates a direction for you and makes you stand out. A million people can do the same thing differently, as long as they trust their process and don’t rely too much on the boundaries of professionalism.
I started photography because my mum wanted me to have a “hobby” that wasn’t dishwashing or cleaning the house. I just remember doing it so much and all the time, I found my own style long before I started traditional training and my professor told me to co-teach the class with him, because what I was doing with my camera was “so good”, he couldn’t teach me anything I didn’t already know. I hate that it took someone of his statue (a famous photographer in Norway” to validate my work before I got the confident I needed to add “photographer” to my Curriculum Vitae.
I hope anyone reading this can just fight that fear and anxiety of not knowing what to do. Beginnings are unique because there is no way back. So embrace growth and the learning journey. Also good luck with art school!!! You got some really beautiful pieces at the festival.
Your point about people doing the same thing but uniquely different really resonated with me. I went to an art show yesterday with artists from all over the US. Some art was up my alley and others not my kind of art but I could see the vision and the trust in their work. I definitely see it in your photography as well.
It is definitely true that there is something pure and magical about the beginning pieces. It is also true, unfortunately, that as an artist I don't think you can stay on that forever, cause at some point it can also look like "fake beginning", I think that can be also noticeable in your work. If you continue, your art definitely will change, somehow, not good or bad, but it will. I've been painting my own ideas for more than 15 years now, without counting many formative years before, and very often I find myself looking at those first paintings nostalgically. They have something I definitely lost, even though I probably could say the paintings I do now are, from a standarized perspective, "better done". It is a shame, and I'm trying to come at peace with that loss, cause so far, I found impossible to recreate that spirit. Maybe at some point I turn the wheel 360⁰ and go back to that loosen, not-knowing perception to just make, I really hope so...
You touched on something here - looking back with nostalgia. It really can resemble a loss even if we’ve had a lot of gains over the years. I suspect we can’t unknow once we know more but we still have to go forward to avoid the “fake beginning” you said so well.
This is awesome, Janet! Thank you for sharing. I'd never considered this until I started practicing Buddhism and heard a dharma talk on the beginners mind. I wish I felt this way in the beginning. I painted some pieces at the beginning of my journey that I look back on and marvel at. I didn't feel that way then, but with time and space, I often find I look back at pieces I was frustrated with and feel completely different. Inversely, sometimes I grow to dislike something I initially felt pleased with. Art is so tricky!! I love your pottery collection and how you're uplifting artists here!
Art is so tricky and a mind f$&6 at times. I think Buddhist Pema Chodron does a good job speaking on beginner’s mindset and being with it all. I am still a work in progress but definitely feel I am slowly building a healthy perspective on the topsy curvy creative journey.
This completely opened my mind to an art practice of mine. I haven’t been able to afford any formal schooling, so I have avoided playing around with it - seeing my own natural exploration as worthless if not guided by a “master”. Now I’m inspired to just play around and see how my own style adapts. Thank you so much for this! I didn’t realize I was subconsciously putting myself on hold, when I should be reveling in the magic of being a beginner. Thank you thank you thank you!!
This is so encouraging and such a great reminder that we are all meant to create and that by my creating - we can live more beautiful lives. Even if we never master our practice. Whether it’s gardening, flower arranging, baking, painting, designing our homes, etc - I feel like so many people never begin because they are afraid of not being an expert.
Love this!! I've always been so hard on myself whenever I start something new. I rarely see the beauty beginning and figuring stuff out on the way. Thank you for this perspective xx.
Having had my first screen printing class in five years tonight, I resonated so much with this piece! I’ve missed the freedom and curiosity that comes with learning a new craft and am excited to see what I create, whether good or bad 🎨
So many excellent points here! I think this also relates to how so many artists just starting out (especially those without connections to the industry like established professors or family) don't know how to price their work, and that can lead to further issues with making a living as an artist down the line. To add to that, it's funny how once an artist IS more established in the art world among galleries, collectors and buyers, pieces from their early career are highly sought after and usually even more valued monetarily, as though owning a piece of their discovery phase is more valuable than their later work, and in turn their own artistic identity. Starting with a new medium can feel so intimidating, but just seeing what happens as you go is half the rush. Your new beginnings at art school are sure to be excellent, Janet, best of luck!
Thank you for the good wishes, Kaya. You make a good point about an artist’s earlier work being valued. Case in point, Frida Khalo’s work. You made me also think about multiple beginnings. As artists we test out new mediums and styles so I guess we should be present with all the beginnings. Appreciate the thoughtful response.
i totally love this perspective! i’m in the beginning stage of writing seriously as an adult, and it can definitely get discouraging in my worst moments. i absolutely agree there’s something memorable about the beginning stages of anything, whether that be a job, a relationship, or creating art, and i always look back on this stage fondly.
Peyton! Seriously, your writing is 👌🏾. Your article on literary salon is definitely one you will look back on fondly, it reeled me into your writing style/thoughts/meaning-making.
I love the beginner’s stage and I feel as we get older we are discouraged from having them. I’ve certainly felt that way recently with trying to make a career change.... no one wants to see you as Bambi when you should be mothering, if not grand-mothering others. It can be discouraging, but I’m grateful my childlike sense of wonder is able to withstand the perils
Love these reflections, Janet! & you are truly right! There is something about beginning something you don’t know and just do what you feel that almost forms you as an artist. It creates a direction for you and makes you stand out. A million people can do the same thing differently, as long as they trust their process and don’t rely too much on the boundaries of professionalism.
I started photography because my mum wanted me to have a “hobby” that wasn’t dishwashing or cleaning the house. I just remember doing it so much and all the time, I found my own style long before I started traditional training and my professor told me to co-teach the class with him, because what I was doing with my camera was “so good”, he couldn’t teach me anything I didn’t already know. I hate that it took someone of his statue (a famous photographer in Norway” to validate my work before I got the confident I needed to add “photographer” to my Curriculum Vitae.
I hope anyone reading this can just fight that fear and anxiety of not knowing what to do. Beginnings are unique because there is no way back. So embrace growth and the learning journey. Also good luck with art school!!! You got some really beautiful pieces at the festival.
Love, M.
Your point about people doing the same thing but uniquely different really resonated with me. I went to an art show yesterday with artists from all over the US. Some art was up my alley and others not my kind of art but I could see the vision and the trust in their work. I definitely see it in your photography as well.
Thanks, Janet 🥰❤️
It is definitely true that there is something pure and magical about the beginning pieces. It is also true, unfortunately, that as an artist I don't think you can stay on that forever, cause at some point it can also look like "fake beginning", I think that can be also noticeable in your work. If you continue, your art definitely will change, somehow, not good or bad, but it will. I've been painting my own ideas for more than 15 years now, without counting many formative years before, and very often I find myself looking at those first paintings nostalgically. They have something I definitely lost, even though I probably could say the paintings I do now are, from a standarized perspective, "better done". It is a shame, and I'm trying to come at peace with that loss, cause so far, I found impossible to recreate that spirit. Maybe at some point I turn the wheel 360⁰ and go back to that loosen, not-knowing perception to just make, I really hope so...
You touched on something here - looking back with nostalgia. It really can resemble a loss even if we’ve had a lot of gains over the years. I suspect we can’t unknow once we know more but we still have to go forward to avoid the “fake beginning” you said so well.
This is awesome, Janet! Thank you for sharing. I'd never considered this until I started practicing Buddhism and heard a dharma talk on the beginners mind. I wish I felt this way in the beginning. I painted some pieces at the beginning of my journey that I look back on and marvel at. I didn't feel that way then, but with time and space, I often find I look back at pieces I was frustrated with and feel completely different. Inversely, sometimes I grow to dislike something I initially felt pleased with. Art is so tricky!! I love your pottery collection and how you're uplifting artists here!
Art is so tricky and a mind f$&6 at times. I think Buddhist Pema Chodron does a good job speaking on beginner’s mindset and being with it all. I am still a work in progress but definitely feel I am slowly building a healthy perspective on the topsy curvy creative journey.
This completely opened my mind to an art practice of mine. I haven’t been able to afford any formal schooling, so I have avoided playing around with it - seeing my own natural exploration as worthless if not guided by a “master”. Now I’m inspired to just play around and see how my own style adapts. Thank you so much for this! I didn’t realize I was subconsciously putting myself on hold, when I should be reveling in the magic of being a beginner. Thank you thank you thank you!!
“Putting myself on hold” wow, that got me. We really do put ourselves on hold. I hope you find play in your practice.
Thank you so much!
This is so encouraging and such a great reminder that we are all meant to create and that by my creating - we can live more beautiful lives. Even if we never master our practice. Whether it’s gardening, flower arranging, baking, painting, designing our homes, etc - I feel like so many people never begin because they are afraid of not being an expert.
So true, Carly. We really do all have what we need to begin.
This is such a great perspective!
Love this!! I've always been so hard on myself whenever I start something new. I rarely see the beauty beginning and figuring stuff out on the way. Thank you for this perspective xx.
Thank you!
Having had my first screen printing class in five years tonight, I resonated so much with this piece! I’ve missed the freedom and curiosity that comes with learning a new craft and am excited to see what I create, whether good or bad 🎨
It’s such an exciting time, rediscovering/re-committing to a craft! I am glad it was a timely post, Jordan.
So many excellent points here! I think this also relates to how so many artists just starting out (especially those without connections to the industry like established professors or family) don't know how to price their work, and that can lead to further issues with making a living as an artist down the line. To add to that, it's funny how once an artist IS more established in the art world among galleries, collectors and buyers, pieces from their early career are highly sought after and usually even more valued monetarily, as though owning a piece of their discovery phase is more valuable than their later work, and in turn their own artistic identity. Starting with a new medium can feel so intimidating, but just seeing what happens as you go is half the rush. Your new beginnings at art school are sure to be excellent, Janet, best of luck!
Thank you for the good wishes, Kaya. You make a good point about an artist’s earlier work being valued. Case in point, Frida Khalo’s work. You made me also think about multiple beginnings. As artists we test out new mediums and styles so I guess we should be present with all the beginnings. Appreciate the thoughtful response.
i totally love this perspective! i’m in the beginning stage of writing seriously as an adult, and it can definitely get discouraging in my worst moments. i absolutely agree there’s something memorable about the beginning stages of anything, whether that be a job, a relationship, or creating art, and i always look back on this stage fondly.
Peyton! Seriously, your writing is 👌🏾. Your article on literary salon is definitely one you will look back on fondly, it reeled me into your writing style/thoughts/meaning-making.
that is so sweet, thank you!! ♥️♥️
I love the beginner’s stage and I feel as we get older we are discouraged from having them. I’ve certainly felt that way recently with trying to make a career change.... no one wants to see you as Bambi when you should be mothering, if not grand-mothering others. It can be discouraging, but I’m grateful my childlike sense of wonder is able to withstand the perils