Shadow Artist
I'm going to my little sister's art show tonight. It's her first independent art show since she graduated with her art degree. I know I sound like an old head, but I am very proud of her. She uses a lot of textures in her art. Maybe I'll tag her someday, but I'm not sure if she would want me to, so I am not going to right now.
As for me, I consider myself a Shadow Artist, a term coined in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. I've worked through that book once, and I am currently working through it again. One thing that stuck with me is that a shadow artist surrounds themselves with other artists because they are drawn to it and a lot of times dates or marries an artist. That hit me right in my heart because my wife is a professional comedian. So, she is an artist.
So many other things stuck with me in that book. I wasn't brave enough to do all of the tasks, but this next go-around I am not advancing past a chapter until I do all of the tasks. I am going to take my time. However, I started my first go-around with the book in September of last year, so that means I started the notorious Morning Pages. I have not missed one day of my Morning Pages since I started. So, that is a huge takeaway.
It has helped me a lot with creative thought. I also think the Morning Pages will help with blogging. It gets me nice and lubed up to write to you fine folks on Bear.
Anyway, about me being a Shadow Artist. I'm drawn to many artistic things, but I can't say I make one certain thing that is art. I went out of high school and became a chef because I wasn't a good academic, and I needed to make money. I wanted to do something creative, and so I chose to cook. Yes, I took a more creative approach to cooking, and I still do, but in the professional cooking world, there is so much more to it than art. It's a business, and a hard one.
Anyway, I am just an at-home cook now. I am currently working on documenting all of my recipes, and I will start a blog with that. Here is when my ADHD Artist brain kicks in, or as of now, shadow artist brain. (Every time I use that term, I actually think of art being made with shadows.) I want to make nice little doodles of my recipes, then I want to take wonderful photos. I also want to build an amazing website along with it. This is just a taste of my chaotic brain.
I am not particularly amazing at cooking, but I do think I am better than most. I am not good at drawing, and I am not great at photography. I'm getting better at web design, and I am trying to freelance.
But wait! There is more! I want to write short stories and someday a book. I'm going to take improv classes. I'm working on shooting short films. There are so many things I dabble in that are creative but not particularly good at.
I make time in my schedule to work on all these things I mentioned and the others I did not talk about. So, I am actually putting in the time and effort. I take the Kaizen / atomic habits approach to it all, and it works.
But for now, I can only consider myself a shadow, but I feel like being a part of this blog will help me be able to showcase my work in the flesh someday.
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