Well my friends, I’m excited to tell you that I’ve received my first big corporate commission since the pandemic. And then my second. While some of you have been back to business for weeks or months, I have not. (Apparently corporations do not buy artwork for their conference room when their entire staff is meeting via Zoom.) In the meantime I’ve been lumping along like an old jalopy, assuming I’m officially a has-been, that I’ll never get another project, and that my career is basically over.
Why do I think this? Because I’m an artist. It’s what we do.
We question our abilities. We doubt our strengths. We ricochet compliments with the power of Serena Williams at the French Open.
Why are we so emotional about our work?
Because emotion is our work.
Creativity and emotion aren’t separable. They’re born from the same part of our brains. Our creative work? It’s all right, baby.
I know some of you are still in shutdown mode, through no fault of your own. Musicians who can’t play, actors who can’t perform, dancers who can’t dance. Artists who’ve had gigs and shows and classes cancelled. I’m here to say: I hear you. I see you. It will all get better.
I don’t know when – it seems that it’s different for all of us. But, keep the faith. It’s coming.
As for me, today I celebrate. I allow myself to splurge on something that isn’t even tax-deductible. And then I start the process of blocking out a draft and blocking out the world and getting to work.
For whatever reason, the winds of fate have decided that today is mine. But I promise, tomorrow is yours.
So, keep the faith. Take the compliment. Believe in yourself. Get emotional when you need to.
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