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I am about to have an image published in a magazine about voices of illness. This is an exciting time in my life because I have had several articles, poems, and images published in the last year. It takes a lot of hard work to publish, so I am wondering what keeps other artists and writers going? Is it the thrill of seeing your work in a magazine or are you more interested in the process of creating?
Holding the dream of being an artist while holding on to reality
Creative people are passionate about drawing, painting, creating, and writing but this has to be balanced with the reality of paying rent, medical bills, and providing food for yourself and your family. Creative people can become so caught up in their dream that the practical business of keeping up with the rent goes by unnoticed. Ideally, an artist or writer would make enough money to pay the bills and keep financial above water but this often does not happen. Some how a creative person must learn to hold the dream while holding the reality of every day life.
If you place your palms up and hold the creative dream in one hand and the reality of rent in the other hand, then slowly bring both hands together, this should create a visual image of the balance you need to create in your life. It is important that you learn to hold two opposites in your life and balance them.
Recently, I had the opportunity to rent some art studio or gallery space in a mansion where 22 other artists will be creating. It is tempting but again I must hold reality in one hand and can I really afford to travel 1.5 hours to a studio to create art? The rent is cheap enough at $100 for now until the building is completed but then the rent goes up. I am planning to move closer to the area but I would still be an hour away. Hmm… Maybe I should just visit the place occasionally. What do you think and what would you do?
