There’s a Fly in My Creative Sanctuary

Many artists complain about the newfound necessity to have an

online presence, but I don’t think that is the heart of the issue. Artists have always needed a space to explain their art and share pieces of themselves with their audience. Today, that platform embodies an online presence more than a physical one. This involves filming and journaling the creative process to later clean up and offer the algorithm with a dream and a prayer that someone will find it inspiring. But I don’t believe that is the real issue. 

I don’t pretend to speak for all artists, but I’ve talked to many who would agree with me. We tend to treat our art studio as a sanctuary. This is a private artist workspace where I get lost in the creative process. Recognizing the requirement of recording myself in this moment scares away the muse. My concentration is lost and my creative flow is broken - no longer am I wrapped up in this new creative endeavor, but I am merely the operator of a thing that will be beautiful.

Me in the Print Hive

The moments when I’m so entranced by the journey of color, shape, and story that I’m ignorant of anything outside of this moment that demands my attention are the moments of greatest passion and worship. 

So it's not so much that we dislike sharing ourselves and our creative process, but that the hum of requirement feeds off of our creativity, draining what could have been something new into something that’s seen by the masses.

Maybe there will be a day of perfect balance when sharing my art is an element of it instead of a distraction, but maybe not. In the meantime, all I ask for is grace and patience as I share my art with you.