” How we choose what we do, and how we approach it…will determine whether the sum of our days adds up to a formless blur, or to something resembling a work of art” –Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

I started my art journey when I was 7 or 8 years old. This is as far as I remember.Of course at this age, my preceptions of Art is very limited to crayons and skizzes. I don´t even know what is an abstract art or what is the style of Mondrian.If a child draw something on a paper, whether it´s a circles of colors or a big chump of black pens, it´s always a masterpiece.You need to compliment the child and yes, encourage them.That masterpiece should end up being posted in the fridge or hang in the wall. Every work of art deserves and an audience and applause.

Well, not really.I never have those times.I don´t have any favourite artists at all, since during those times, I can´t recall having many books related to art. I didn´t even know what kind of art I was making. Because of constant move, I lost all my childhood drawings and I don´t have tangible recollections of my old drawings. But then I am sure, I painted a lot of fields,landscapes, mosaic and doll like perspectives.

Getting to know my Art style was hard for me in the beginning. It didn´t came easy. Puberty is also a crucial time and life itself offers daily obstacles to find the person who I want to be. In school there´s always an Art competition but it it doesn´t guarantee of winning always.I am exposed to an environment that doing better in Academics is better than paints, crayons and sketch pads. Drawing is a hobby, not a field to excel. So up to that time, I never really encouraged myself to do better art or even excel in it. I am just bent on at least getting a medal, or at least in the top 5 of graduating class. I could give so many weak excuses but at this phase, I haven´t get to know my art style…no, not yet.

I find this totally different from children nowadays. My daughter had a drawing exhibition at age of 5. She is constantly active in her Kindergaten years both in sports activity and drawing. She draw almost everyday.One time she came to me and said :

” Mama, please check in my Math book, in page 61, you will find there something that you will like. There is the famous painting of Wassily Kandinsky, the” Weiches Hart“: This painter is also included in the 50 famous Artists Book ( 50 Berühmte Künstler in der Welt).

I said to myself…Okaaaayyy. My God, she´s only 6. How on earth does she knows it?

Does she even knows the art style of Kandinsky?

In the end, she mumbled ” I also wanted to be in that Book Mama…”

I am sure she doesn´t know what she want in her life either.This phase is yet too fragile. The metamorphosis of growth,changing behavious, dreams and attitude and so on seems so infinitely wide.The journey is still far…

Getting to know my own style of art came actually late in my life. I am also a late bloomer in everything. The only thing that I am early is when I wake up in the morning because I am actually a morning person.I started drawing more and paying attention to details. I took noted on which Artist´s styles appeal to me and what elements of design is present in my creations. I pushed to maintain my patterns and made my own voice.

The flood of compliments and encouragement came I was reassured. I heard the voice signalling me to continue and hone my brushes and create something unique.I started an Art journal and watch my progress.

Looking back in Highschool I started joing poster making contests.Sometimes I skip it because I haven´t prepared well & my materials are limited. I got intimidated and success of winning doesn´t come quickly. My ideas were so little and I feel insecure of my art.I didn´t know that it requires patience and I haven´t really push myself to get out from my boundaries. I was too busy concentrating on life, studies, and other fields of survival. I got distracted again by the dust of everyday life.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life ” …-Pablo Picasso

Then I started to pay more attention to myself.I startted taking care of myself and doing what makes me happy.I searched in my soul and in my creativity bank to polish what I can and what can I do to make it better. I tried experimenting with different mediums and explore other dangerous, risky subjects. It feels more like getting to know what kind of coffee I would like to order, the type of bag I wanted to bring… a journey to being an Aesthetes.

I am always motivated by visual pleasure and I would trade a place inside an Art Gallery and admire the masters.I have dreamt of having an original artwork piece of my favourite Artist. I spend and spend more time and money on art than most people, or other material things.I go to exhibitions and join them If I can afford it and have the time for it…

I took risks, and developing my own art style didn´t come out from thin air.

I am still not even there, I am still a project in motion, a work in progress.

Everyday, I am still getting to know myself and my Art and at the end of every painting session, my hands are dirty.

I am happy though that it´s always messy ever after.

” Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures..” -Henry Ward Beecher

What type of Art do you love?

Do you still remember what you wanna be when you were 10 years old ?

This post is inspired by Lens Artist Photo Challenge “Getting to Know You, a great subject introduced by the witty Priscilla of scillagrace. If you have time to kill, head on to her page and see the other meaningful interpretation of this Theme.

Until then, Tschüss.