personality of the talented

My family and I were watching American Idol last week with our Turkish exchange student. She likes to sing so we thought she would find it entertaining, and well we often find the auditions entertaining too. While we were watching the show, my husband pointed out that you can tell the people who have talent as they enter the room and speak their first sentence. There are traits that are fairly consistent. Now if you have watched the auditions, or seen the trailers you know that some people who try out are awful, no terrible. Some come in with brazen attitude and are 'ok' or maybe they suck. But the ones with the real talent, the ability to shine come in with no fan fare. The tend to be 'real'. They enter with a calm self-assuredness. Not easily rattled, not visibly nervous, and often with a slightly humble air. The cocky, the flamboyant, the trash talkers, the beggars, the nut jobs, they are so obviously faking, pretending to be talented. So what does this tell us? I think we can apply this art as well. When you go to an illustrators site that feels forced, over the top, contrived, self-ingratiating, it feels awkward and the art feels amateur. But when you go to a calm site, with purposeful art that is not boastful, you can tell this person knows what they are doing. Letting the art speak for itself, thereby letting us see the artist as the art.

staying on target

One of the hardest things for me as an artist with a family is staying on target. There is always something demanding attention. But that isn't all. With technology changing so quickly and new ways to connect ever evolving, it seems I am always adjusting my focus. The art is of course paramount, but along with doing the art, keeping the faith and being true to your muse, comes along family and technology. Sometimes I find I just need to take small bites. Don't look at every avenue, just like you can't look at your whole house when it seems as though it has thrown up on itself. No, instead you just take one thing at a time. And then build on it. If you have read my posts you know I am working on a collection of cupcakes. I have 5 done now, and am expanding to include design elements with each of the 5. Along with making the art, I have joined the Art Licensing Forum. Which has led me to a great luncheon meeting fellow artists in Portland that are working the licensing angle. That in turn led me to Twitter. Which no doubt will lead me to the next curve in the road. All along the way there are the holidays which demand personal time. Which is my salvation on many days. I won't wax poetic on being a mom, because it is a dirty job full of mess, mediation and madness, but it is the reason I get up every morning. Art has been just as selfish, just as thankless a job but never cuddles up and says I love you. But alas here I am deviating from my message, staying on target. Essentially what I struggle with is keeping the big picture out there, working on the small steps to get me closer without getting too sidetracked. Note to self as said in a monotonous tone in Star Wars (#4 for all you nerds) - Stay On Target.