I am a teacher at heart, and it’s teaching and sharing my art with others that really gives me purpose. Whether I’m in a classroom with students or making a video for YouTube, it’s my desire to help others connect with their creativity that energizes me and motivates me.
Yes, I’m also an artist. I live and breathe art, and I sit down everyday and engage in my artmaking. But I don’t pursue all those things that artists have to do to get their art out there and make a name for themselves. I don’t go to art openings and make connections with curators and gallery owners in order to get exhibitions, and the few exhibitions that I’ve had over the years have been because of someone else working on my behalf. I’m terrible at promoting and selling my art, especially online, and even when I’m fortunate to sell something, I cringe at having to pack up the art and head over to the post office to send it off. I sell most of my work in person at conferences and workshops where people often know who I am and what I do, and want to take a small piece of mine home with them.
I love making the work, and I think that my work is good. I’d love if I could sell more of it, but I’m just not into pursuing all of that other stuff. It just does’t interest me.
But I love sharing my work and how I make it. I love helping others discover their artistic voice, and I love being a small inspiration for others.
I believe that art can can have a huge impact on the world, but I believe that helping individuals uncover their creative voice can have an even bigger impact. I don’t think my art will ever change the world, but I believe my teaching will.