Being happy is worth a lot

Artist unknown

As I was creating art journal pages in my studio last week, I was thinking the same exact thoughts. Most of the pages I create in my journals never see the light of day online, and there’s a reason for that.

It’s not because I deem it unworthy or not good enough..just the opposite is true. It’s actually my most prized artwork, and I hold it closest to my heart. I don’t share it because it feels glorious to make art just because – for ME. No other reason is necessary. 

I hope, if you’re a working artist, you take the time to make art just for you, also. If you’re always creating for someone else, particularly in exchange for money, it becomes soulless after a while. You’ll start to feel dead inside, and mechanical on the outside.

Before you know it, you’ll be going through the motions every day like a robot, as if you’re working a 9-5. Although for artists, it’s more like 16 to 20 hour days, weekends, and holidays. 

Burnout is something I’ve been dealing with, on and off, for a few years now. I’ve actually been struggling the most with it in the past year. I was drowning in work, and had to force myself to make drastic changes. I’m much happier now that I have boundaries in place. I might write a post and go more into detail about it sometime.  Let me know if this is something you’d be interested in reading.