The other day I was in a terrible mood, you see I get that way when I’m asked to do something that is against my nature, and sitting in an art store doing a demonstration on acrylic painting is not at the top of my list. The idea of sitting there painting and having kids ask you dumb questions, “Are you a painter?” I say, “No, I’m an artist,” or having people bump into you with their shopping cart is not my cup of tea.
I was sitting there reluctantly demonstrating my talents and answering questions about the classes I was offering, when in walks a lady with the biggest smile on her face. She stood behind me watching me work for a while. I was having a good time painting that day and I had a smile on my face. The woman observing me from behind then came right up to me and asked about the classes, I gave her all the information and immediately said to her, smiling, “You should take the class, you’ll have a great time, I always try to make my classes fun.”
She abruptly told me she was a cancer victim, and was inspired to take the class by watching me work. She said the past few years had been a stressful time for her and she was looking for something that would be both a creative outlet, and a way to relieve her stress. She said I seemed like a nice person and felt that would help her cope with the stress she was under, through my painting classes.
I was blown away with her frankness, and how she was willing to give me some of her valuable time and her willingness to tell me about her illness and how much she was looking forward to my class.
That day I learned that even at my age, there’s still a lot to learn about myself as an artist. I learned that as an artist, you create your own reality. You can choose to have a productive day or you can choose to do nothing, your choice, no one else.
So the next time you feel moody and uninspired, just remember that you have a unique gift, the ability to touch peoples’ lives as an artist, and no one can take that away from you but yourself.