...to Master of One

Last time, I wrote about being a lifelong jack-of-all-trades; dabbling in everything, mastering nothing.

Until the day I asked myself the question “how would I approach art differently if I wanted it to be my next career?”

Never underestimate the power of a good question.

Early this year, I asked myself another one.

”What would I do differently if I knew I’d become a great master artist one day?”

That question cracked something open in me.

It started to expand my vision. Could I create art that hangs in museums?
Maybe… even while I’m still alive?

I added a section to my goals list: Big Audacious Goals

And under it, I wrote:
“Have a painting hanging in the Louvre, The Met, or another museum of that caliber.”

It felt ridiculous at first… a total stretch… but then I thought, “why not me?”

When I finally said it outloud, to my friend Mike…
”I think I could maybe become a great master artist.”

He didn't even hesitate. ”I know you can,” he replied.

And that’s the moment it shifted. It stopped being a far-off dream and became a decision.

I will master art.

So what does that mean for me now?

I’m already studying, learning, practicing and creating.

But now I imagine that someday, people will study ME.

That thought led me here, to this blog. If art historians are going to be poking around my story one day, I might as well give them the good stuff straight from the source.

It feels strange to say this. It walks the fine line between big dreams and believing in myself… and sounding completely delusional!

But I’m leaning into it. I’m leaving behind a trail of material for my future students to study. My thoughts and feelings of where I am now, my paintings and process videos on my YouTube channel, and my paintings- so my future students will have plenty to study, (You’re welcome.)

Being a master means:
Finding my artistic voice.
Thinking about what I stand for.
Discovering what I want to communicate with my work.

I’ve never decided to master something before. It’s different.

It’s the difference between creating, and creating your life’s work. It’s big, it’s scary, and it’s exciting.

So I’m writing about my path, my thoughts, my practices, my influences.. and about the things that have always meant something to me, like bees. As I figure it all out I imagine that these themes and icons will start appearing in my art.

I have begin to articulate what my art is about, what my goals and intentions are, who I’m being influenced by, and what my hopes and dreams are as an artist.

What else am I doing now, knowing that I’ll become a great master?

I’d starting to catalogue my art. Keeping track of what i create, where it is, and developing a database of works. I’m working on that now in Notion, and happy to share with you what I have so far for structure. Feel free to copy it and make it your own.

I’d learn every medium and technique. I’d try every tool, every style, and explore what stirs up something within me. I’d get good at ALL THE THINGs.

I’d move towards creating a body of work with my own voice, rather than simply painting tutorials and from photo references. I’d push myself into finding more of who I am and showing that in my work. I’d stay authentic, open and vulnerable.
I’d learn about art marketing, the art industry, what it means to be in galleries and museums. I’d make myself known.

Dare I say a household name? nope, not there.. yet…

What else does being a master mean to me?

It means I’d deeply commit to this chosen activity. It would become my life’s journey, and my magnum opus. I would start all of these things now, but not at the expense of spending time on my skills. I’m not in a hurry- and doing more in these areas is a potential distraction from my primary goal… to develop my art skills. These things can easily grow along side that primary goal.

Sometimes I wish I had heard the call at a much younger age.

But I don’t think I was meant to. I believe I was meant to grow into this now, to inspire people my age (any age, really) to believe it’s never too late to learn something new.

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway,” ~Earl Nightengale

I also feel called to help those that come after me embrace whatever identity they desire. We are not defined by our circumstance, only by our actions.

You are what you choose to DO.

And I am an artist.