Those Quirky Artists

The famed Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia is home to some 2.7 million works of art. And they are not just any pieces but range from Ancient Egyptian treasures to van Gogh and Botticelli masterpieces. How is that for putting one's own creativity in perspective? Some competition, huh? Having said that, I still like to pretend that I too, am an artist. Although on nites like these when nothing seems to be working right, I wonder what I ever was thinking. However, there is a gorgeous and full Harvest Moon tonight. It shall have my admiration soon and it will manage to soothe my yearning soul. Ahh such fun, dancing for the mystic moon.

For inspiration, I also like to read the profiles of other artists on such sites as Etsy.com. I have noticed that common themes emerge. Most (of us) artsy folk recall that our earliest memories include funny stories about our artwork. We tend to always view the world as a potential canvas, almost to the point of obsession. We haven't finished our current project but are always planning ahead for the next. Time flies when we are in the delirium of our work but we are never really sure that we like what we create. We learn from our mistakes, accept them, and even at times almost welcome them for they test our limits and generate passion.

I am not a huge fan of Jackson Pollock but I am fascinated by the man as an artist. There is one photo of him standing in front of and pondering a huge blank canvas that was to be one of the largest works that he ever created. He was under a lot of pressure and up against a deadline after being commissioned to paint a work for a significant gala event. After weeks of pondering and virtual paralysis, it is said that he finally but frenetically painted straight through the night. I love that photo and the story. He faced his own unique challenges and the world tragically lost this artist at his young age of 44 years.

The future belongs to those who are free to believe in their dreams.