I'm currently participating in a critique group and we had to introduce ourselves to each other with a short (5 minute) personal history. I thought you might be interested to see mine:
I hope you feel you know me a bit better after watching that. I'm going to encourage you to make your own version — even if it's not a video. Maybe a social media post? Or simply a presentation for your family and friends? It could be the basis of an artist talk too!
The point of an exercise like this is to force you to think about where you've been and where you're going. It's trite, but it's true: Every artist embarks on a unique and personal journey to explore their creative potential. There is no single path. That can be both frustrating and liberating. I think creating an abridged history can provide valuable insights, motivation, and guidance for artists at all levels.
How?
I'm so glad that you asked!
1. Self-Reflection leads to Self-Awareness
As you review your past work and experiences, you can gain a deeper understanding of your creative journey. This reflection allows you to see how far you've come, identify patterns in your artistic development, and recognize the themes and styles that have consistently resonated with you. Self-awareness is a crucial step towards personal and artistic growth. It's also the biggest key to "finding" your personal style.
2. Goal Setting and Planning
The history of your artistic progress can also serve as a roadmap for your future. By analyzing your past achievements and challenges, you can set realistic and achievable goals. You can use past timelines and structures to create new paths toward your artistic goals. For example: Is it realistic to complete a 100 day challenge if you've never managed to do it before? Should you maybe start with a 30 day challenge?
3. Overcoming Creative Blocks
Creative blocks can be frustrating and demotivating. However, by revisiting your artistic journey, you'll be able to see what motivated you in the past and what caused your progress to stutter. You might also find that revisiting your early work or recalling your initial enthusiasm can reignite your passion for creating art and help you push through the most challenging creative moments. I know that my old art journals have pushed me out of many slumps.
4. Building a Unique Artistic Identity (aka Personal Style)
Understanding your artistic evolution can help you define who you are as an artist. As you identify consistent themes and styles in your work, you can choose to embrace and refine them. This can lead to a more recognizable and consistent body of work that sets you apart from other artists.
5. Sharing Your Artistic Story
Your artistic progress is a compelling story in itself. Your friends, family, collectors, community, etc. will have the opportunity to witness your growth, struggles, and triumphs, making them more invested and interested in your artistic journey. If you have someone in your life who is important to you, but doesn't necessarily "get" the art thing, sharing your abridged history can help them to see how important art is to you and how hard you've worked.
So how do you do it? Here is one way:
- Think about the various "periods" of your artistic development and name them.
- Pick one piece of art that is representative of each period. It doesn't have to be work you're proud of. Just something that feels like it represents whatever was going on for you then.
- Arrange the pieces in chronological order.
- Create a loose narrative of where you've been and where you're going. Focus on the transitions. What led from one period to the next?
- Do you see any themes or commonalities?
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, taking the time to document your artistic journey can help you move forward in purposeful ways.
If you're interested in assistance with moving forward, consider joining Design Boot Camp. I have a big sticky note on my desk that says, "Design Boot Camp is about WHO YOU ARE." And it's very true. While you do learn all about the Principles and Elements of Art, you really learn the most about yourself.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. Please note that tomorrow's Book Club has been rescheduled for next month.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
Dearest, thank you for such keen, wise insight into one’s life-long-art-journey. I am feeling
on schedule and in tune, instead of lacking.
Thank you for all the encouragement and direction.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
You are truly fabulous!! Making a video while not feeling fully well shows fortitude and great will power! Thank you for consistently educating and sharing valuable information with your audience and fans. What great advice. I am aware that I have a body of work over 30 years while not identifying as an “artist”. My art was more experimenting and something I needed to express in my free time. This email gave me a lot of food for thought. Thank you again. I am excited to do the work, looking at my photos of old and not such great art, and what I make today that is confined to art journals. I am incredibly grateful for the quality and breadth of knowledge that you have and share as an art educator.
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
I’m so sorry to hear that you are sick! I was afraid that might be the case when I saw you’d postponed the book discussion. Take care of you, Julie…
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Awesome video, Julie. This explains why you are such a wonderful teacher. I have witnessed these shifts in your artistic style. I am delighted to be here cheering you on.
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Very kind of you!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Sue!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Thank you, Julie. I wonder what you will discover as you look through your artistic history! Lots of treasures and tips for yourself no doubt!
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
Speedy recovery Julie! Wow. I’ve been following you since your New York days. Watching you explore and transition. Always inspired by your bravery. Wanting to be you. Except I don’t do faces haha. However, I love love the Golden paint piece. One of these days I’ll be jumping on one of your classes. Gelli printing maybe. And definitely the scan n cut membership. Trying to find the right time. There really is no best time tho, right?
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
I hope you will.
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie
Julie, It was so wonderful to hear your story and see your art. Thank you for sharing this. You always amaze me. I hope that you feel better very soon.
Best wishes, always.
So grateful to have found you.
Sondra Borrie