I've been thinking a lot lately about creativity. And validity. And whether or not I can be a professional musician while I am still a professional PR consultant. Its the "day job" stigma that's had me confused.
Here's where I am in my thought process. As ususal, there are some stories to tell.
Sara is a ceramicist in West Linn, Oregon. She is also a graphic designer. When she lived in Santa Clara, I sculpted in her studio every Friday morning. She moved to Oregon two years ago, and now I don't sculpt anymore. We spent a few days together last month when Greg and I were on tour, and she said something that I can't shake. She said as long as she can make her living as a graphic designer, and not a ceramicist, she is freer to create her art.
It sounds so obvious, and it makes perfect sense when Sara says it because I see her first as an artist, and second as someone who I call when I need a brochure or a poster - like tomorrow.
But I've been caught up in not feeling worthy because I'm not a starving musician. I'm a successful public relations consultant living in Silicon Valley.
My mom is a visual artist - she draws portraits with depth and feeling, paints innovative and inspiring abstract watercolors and creates amazing hand made paper pieces. Although many pieces have hung in galleries - and certainly some have been sold - selling her art has never been her focus. But that doesn't mean she is an amateur, or that her artwork doesn't have value. She's taught me a lot about not devaluing your art.
Being in my parents' house, surrounded by her paintings, is to be enveloped by a beauty and peacefulness that I don't find anywhere else. And although her primary medium is visual and mine is music, she is a true artistic inspiration for me. We're headed down for a visit this weekend, and I can't wait. I need that peacefulness.
So here's where I think I am with this... Sara can sculpt from her heart. My mother can paint and create paper from her heart. I can write songs from my heart.
It doesn't mean we are amateurs or that our art is inferior... just that we are creatively free from the need to make a living from our art. And that's very important work.
