the other day, dan morelle sent me a wonderful surprise- a book!!!! artist to artist: 23 major illustrators talk to children about their art.... it has been already read fully and it's quite inspirational.... every now and then, we need to rekindle those dreams of accomplishing certain artistic goals... every now and then we need to remember how we began and why we chose this path... sometimes, i see the bills come in [like a flood] and having a degree in art, seems so futile... it's discouraging when i am cleaning the dust off my degree... it's disappointing when the only student loan i have has to go into forebearance yet again.... the sentence "i should have went to another college and majored in something else" occasionally slips from my lips and guilt settles in... of course, if i would have chosen a different college, ramel and i would have never met... diego and isabella wouldn't exist... meeting all you wonderful people here wouldn't have happened... who knows how life would have been, unless i have my own angel come and give me an "it's a wonderful life" experience... so it's important to embrace inspiration and motivation when it comes... it's even more important to seek it out and not allow yourself to dwell on current situation, which often is different than what you had intended.... there are artists who have been in these situations and made it through, with published books as a result... artists who have succeeded despite the times when all seemed impossible...
i am so grateful for them!!!! it proves that following dreams, having a family, having bills, and being happy can all be done at the same time.... a few shed tears... a few tantrums... a few disconnection notices.... those too shall pass, eh?! throughout my whoppin' 26 years of life, i have been surrounded by so many special experiences... i don't believe they were just by chance... after reading artist to artist, the memories came back like a flood! back in 1991, i was a scrawny 5th grader who enjoyed writing and reading... we had a contest at the school for entering the young author's conference [which still exists], and we had to write why we felt we deserved to go... there was only one winner for that school.... and i won!!!
the conference had over 265 kids ranging from 3rd grade to high school... each student was able to write their own story and have it published... [tomorrow i will post the story i wrote]... we had a special guest come and talk to us... it was ashley bryan, who is one of the illustrators in the book dan sent... and i was honored enough to meet mr.ashley bryan and get his autograph [although, i wonder if he would remember me]... it was thanks to my teacher who took me- she bought his book, beat the story-drum pum pum for me and I STILL HAVE IT TO THIS DAY... it was such a wonderful experience!
with moments like this in my life, there is no excuse... there is no reason to give up on my dreams... there is no reason to quit artwork... as many times i've allowed the frustration to settle in and contemplated [threatened] giving up, there are even more times when someone or something has encouraged me to do otherwise... everything happens for a reason... the very day i read artist to artist, so happened to be the very day [earlier] i ranted of how my artwork can't even pay the smallest bill... wasn't just a coincidence!
anyhow, i better get to the studio and work on art while the energy and drive exceeds my lack of sleep... have a happy weekend!!!
Yes its true nothing happens by chance its call destiny and purpose but one thing for sure we all must have listenging ears and hearts to go and take a chance ok I will stop being a mother.
Ellia that is great and you do have some really awesome connections!!!
Posted by: Nina | November 03, 2007 at 09:03 PM
great post!!!!!
Posted by: Blake C Himsl Hunter | November 03, 2007 at 09:14 PM
Ellia, I'm struggling with alot of the same thoughts right now so I was so happy to see your post today. Money for supplies going out, not much coming back in yet. We have to hang on to the "yet". Your artwork is SO amazing. The things you do with paper, glue and an exacto knife just blow me away. Do it for you, and diego, and isabella, and even ramel-the rest WILL fall into place. You have way too much talent for it not to. And then when you're rich and famous with books, and licensing deals, and all that jazz...you'll look back on this and remember how it was, and how the life you have know influences your art and your creativity. Viva la dreams!!!!
Posted by: Mika | November 04, 2007 at 10:18 AM
i loved reading this! as my husband and i were discussing the other day, it's all about connections and who you know. you know some people and you're talented and you have a desire to succeed. Success can't be to far off. :0)
Posted by: Robyn | November 04, 2007 at 09:31 PM