“Artistic Acceptance” by Seth D8 – July '06

+ Since about 1991 I have been on a journey of artistic acceptance.  It all started out my freshman year in high school.  I never had interest in the art, nor did I even conceive of myself being an artistic person.  I was a very outspoken, proactive and fashionable individual, but never as far as art was concerned.
 
I was taking a introduction to art class, taught by Lynn Saad, because I had to take credits for art in order to graduate.  Believe me when I say I had no interest in taking the class electively.  During the first have of the trimester I spent most of time socializing or making an excuse to get out of class.  I litterly did nothing, I was, I mostly always am, disengaged because I had no interest and did not serve me.
 
One day Mrs. Saad came over to have the, your failing and you better get your act together talk.  She brought me into another studio, which was empty, to have the talk.  She told me I was currently failing the class and there was no reason why that would be the case.  I quite rudely told her there was probably a slim chance of me getting a “D” because “I was not an artist or even inclined to be an artist!”
 
Mrs. Saad just looked at me, waited for me to finish, and with a warm loving smile began to speak.  She told me that everyone, yes, everyone is an artist.  The very simple act of living life gives you every skill you need to be an artist.  So if you are living, you are an artist of your life.  The only thing that translates what we recognize as an artist is their willingness to put their life into another form in any way they see fit.
 
She then grabbed a blank canvas and some acrylic paint and instructed me to stay in the empty studio.  She said observe your thoughts, what is the first thing that comes to mind, I want you to use this paint and just put it on the canvas.  Don't hold any judgment or attachment to what it looks like, just create.  I don't want you to come into the other room until you have create something.
 
I sat there for about 10 minutes all pissed off that this teacher was making me paint something.  I kept having all these feelings of superiority and judgment rise in me.  I had a ton of self doubt and my mind was swirling.  Then I just decided to give it a shot, what was the worst thing which could happen, I waste a canvas and some paint.
 
I took the paint brush an drew a crude outline, in black, of a face.  Then I began to color it in.  Some where between the black lines and starting to color it in with color I began to perceive my artistic side for the first time.  I wasn't sure where it was coming from, I just kept painting, and layering color after color.  My god, a really nice image was starting emerge.  After about 30 minutes I was finished.  I had just created an astonishing painting of a abstract man in a suit with wild multi colored hair.  I couldn't believe I had just painted the painting I was looking at!
 
I went and got Mrs. Saad and showed her the painting.  And again, with that caring loving smile, she said “See, I told you everyone is an artist”.  I brought the painting home after school and showed it to my parents.  They where amazed and promptly hung it on the wall above the couch where we all sit and watch T.V. everynight.  It still hangs there to this day.
 
I learned something valuable that day, that yes, everyone is an artist in their own right, it just their ability to perceive it that differentiates us.  I also quite quickly and deliberately began exploring everything about creating art in any form.  I was so excited about my new self discovery and on developing what was obviously my distinct style from my first painting.
 
I have always been a very prolific person, especially as a developing artist.  I took more art classes in high school.  I also, with the encouragement of Mrs. Saad, took two week long art seminars taught by north west artist.  One was for painting and the other was for print making.  During my senior year in high school I went into the running start program and began classes at a community college for both high school and college.  The program I was in focused on printing technologies and digital imaging.
 
This program was more geared towards getting you ready to work in the pre-press area of the printing industry, rather than on artistic development.  It was good because I quickly mastered the latest imaging technology and understood the technical requirements of producing an image from an electronic format to an actual piece of paper.
 
During my young adult life I went through spurts of creativity creating a series here and a series there, but still I hadn't fully built my awareness around the fact that I was an artist.  I just honestly felt that I was just a guy who could manage to make things look good on paper.  This continued over my 20's till this beginning winter, when I had officially turned 31.
 
I was really pondering where I wanted to create my life next, from my mid teens till now I had achieved so much.  I had owned my own company, been an executive for a multi-national printing company and I even managed to be a professional body pierce for a couple of years.  I spent allot of time observing myself, what made me the most joyous I could be and as little disturbance to my inner peace as possible?
 
Well, I do like creating images…But to do that as life's work I would have to be an artist right?  The experience of my entire life to this point finally had built enough awareness to realize that, YES, I AM AN ARTIST!  If I am an artist then I should really start BEING an artist.  My whole consciousness shifted and a completely new world suddenly opened up for me to see.
 
My spiritual life had progressed during all of this life living as well, so I decided to apply my spiritual beliefs around my new being an artist.  This period is allot like my coming out of the closet about my spiritual beliefs as well. I begun creating new imagery as quickly as I could perceive it.  I was always patiently observing ensuring that I wasn't holding attachment, possession or judgment towards anything I was creating on paper or in my life.  Observing my highest thoughts and instantly putting those thoughts into action without even a second guess.
 
WOW!  has it been an amazing year so far.  I am constantly perceiving new ideas, concepts and ways of being.  My artistic style has progressed along the same path.  I began building a artistic and spiritual presence in my world.  I have created multitudes or art sported around the world.  I have invaded as many spheres on the internet and community as I can possibly handle.
 
I have been sharing my creations and beliefs across the world landscape as not to leave anyone out.  I recognize that people are still living in the illusion of separation, so I must to live in that world at times as well.  This is why I have chosen to have so many blogs and places to view my creations, I can see that each of these sites speaks to a different audience, so the only way to break down the illusion of separation in to exist in all these separate sites at the same time, yet adjusting my style to fit their needs.
 
Since I have begun the process of truly realizing and being an artistic, expressive, no holds bar transparent person my life and perception of my universe has grown by leaps and bounds.  It is a very real situation to constantly amaze myself by what I have created.  I am truly reinventing myself to an even grander version in every moment their is.  I am so astounded by the possibilities which exist for me to perceive and experience sometimes I can hardly control my self.  But like devote person, I continually observe my universe, follow my highest thoughts and keep creating,, creating to my hearts content.
 
This has been my artistic acceptance up to this point. I encourage you to just start out the way I did and discover how to put your life into another form.
 
Namaste!