Time and Identity are two important concepts I had to understand as an aspiring artist. It took years for me to realize how much these simple words could impact an artist. I learned through my feelings of anger, sadness, tears, and tough experiences, rather than criticism, how to use these words effectively.

When I first started learning to draw as a child, I didn’t know the meaning of certain terms because I was just a young kid excited by my talent and the praise I received from my family, like any six-year-old. I wouldn’t truly understand these concepts until I faced them later in adulthood.

Let’s start with the word “Identity.” We all have our own identity and know who we are; we are our own person. I understand this about myself, so I wondered why I couldn’t bring this awareness into my art. Why did I feel like two different people when I create? There’s the person I am before I start drawing and another person after I begin. Do you understand what I mean?

If you’re unsure what I mean, let me explain more.

When I began to focus on showcasing my art on social media, the platforms were limited. My first was CherryTap, followed by the more user-friendly MySpace, along with Bulletin Board and Prodigy for posting. It wasn’t until Facebook that I could truly share my artwork online. This marked the start of my identity crisis as an established artist.

I began to notice more artists sharing their work on social media. Their art seemed amazing and far better than mine. I saw people commenting and liking their pieces, while my work received no attention. This made me doubt my abilities and question my identity as an artist, as my creations seemed like childish drawings compared to theirs. I constantly compared myself to other artists on my platform. My love for drawing began to feel burdensome, like schoolwork for an unskilled student. Without realizing it, I was falling into the trap of comparing myself to others, which is a major mistake for any artist.

I thought this would last only weeks or a couple of months, but it didn’t. It took years for me to develop my own identity and drawing skills. Yes, I needed my own set of drawing skills, skills I could proudly call my own. I realize this might be confusing, and I see that I may need to write more chapters on this topic since there’s so much more to discuss, and I haven’t even fully explained the concept of “Identity.”

If you relate to what I’ve discussed so far as an artist and you are an artist yourself, writer, or crafter, you understand the importance of establishing your identity and the time needed for creation. I will continue this topic in my next post, as there is much more to explore and teach. I will update this title to reflect that it’s part of chapter one.

Sincerely,

David L

Healingwithart