Artist Date
What is an artist date?
An artist date is something that is super important, and something that I don’t do enough. Today I am having an artist date with myself. I am sitting outside at a cafe in the River Arts District on a beautiful day. I am surrounded by people and amazing Graffiti art on every visible wall of every surrounding building. This is my go-to place when I want to feel cool and hip. I sip on a vanilla latte, eat a morning glory muffin, and feel like a free spirit artist for a minute.
Today, I decided to work on my personal artist website a bit and write my first blog post. Admittedly, I am a struggling artist, in every sense of the word. I am struggling because I am not actively selling any of my art at the moment. I am struggling because I often don’t see myself as an artist, even though I know that I am. I struggle with feelings of guilt when I spend time in my studio because I still feel like other things are more important or valued - like yard work, grocery shopping, cooking, errands, cleaning out the gutters, and any other big or small thing that seems to stare me in the face. I struggle against a lifetime of family and society telling me what work, making money, and living life on the day to day should look like. I struggle because I am alone for most of every day and me alone with my thoughts can be a dangerous and detrimental thing. I struggle with self worth, believing in myself, and doing what it takes to be successful. I struggle with feeling all the things all the time - depressed, hopeful, anxious, panic-stricken, motivated, inspired, overwhelmed, sad, happy, full, empty, grateful.
An artist date is an opportunity to recharge your creative self, find inspiration, be around people, get some fresh air, and maybe even act like an artist. I am living into myself and my life as an artist. It doesn’t look like most people’s days. I get that. And I appreciate so much the privilege of being able to do this. I don’t do it enough. Because I feel guilty. Although I feel guilty and have trouble allowing myself to have an artist date like this, I call bullshit on it. I am no good to anyone if I am walking around miserable, uninspired, unmotivated, listless, and depressed. An artist date can be something like what I am doing today, or it can be a trip to an art gallery or museum, the art supply store, bookstore, or even a walk in the woods or at a nature center. It can be whatever you want it to be wherever you want it to be as long as it serves to fill you up and get you in touch with your authentic self.
My muffin and coffee are almost gone. What’s next? I’m going to walk around and get lost in the graffiti … dreaming about one day making some graffiti of my own.