Heartsong Studio

When I first moved in with my present husband Bill 35 years ago, I found a new job on a US military base. As graphic illustrator, I was to make signs for military exercises, and I was given a mechanical “lettera set” for making them.

Though it meant I could be with my new man, after the innovative freedom of teaching at an International School, I hated the prospect of not using my creative juices all day long.

But, at first I did what was asked, and made legible signs. The soldiers were very satisfied. They got what they expected. I was successful, but bored stiff.

Who do you please, yourself or others?

A friend and client of mine regrets that she can’t develop her own ‘fun’ art because she has to churn out art that sells in her coop gallery. You may have found that friends or clients keep expecting your original type of work too. Maybe it was successful once so you don’t like to turn them down.

I bought some books on calligraphy and took a night school course. Soon I started making every work order in duplicate: one with the lettera set, and one in freehand calligraphy. Then I turned them both in and let the captain choose.

Every single time that I submitted two versions, the ordinary soldiers always chose the hand drawn calligraphy one. Within a week, I stopped making the mechanical version. This was soldiers expecting military signs, not people expecting varied art in a gallery.

How can they choose what they haven’t seen yet?

If you gave yourself the chance to develop some other sides of your art, then your clients could see for themselves the larger array of your creative capabilities.

If the soldiers instantly appreciated my creative calligraphy, how long do you think it would it take your clients to enjoy the choices of new innovations in your art?

The essence of your ‘fun’ artwork is no different from that of what you sell. All your work contains your essential spirit. You can’t help it.

Give yourself some private time to satisfy your own needs, to develop your art just for you, and see what’s in there wanting to show up. It needn’t take a great deal of extra time away from your usual work.

Try this:

> Fewer pieces but more options.

Work on your own ‘fun’ art, then introduce one or two innovative pieces along with fewer of your tried and tested ones.

> Cross pollinate.

After awhile you could interweave newly developing directions that show up in your newly emerging art into ‘old’ expected pieces, letting the ideas lead you as they seem suitable.

More creative freedom than ever.

It wasn’t long before I started to be asked to make advertising posters and tickets for the military community theatre group, and other functions. Work began to be really creative and fun.

Once your innovative side is exposed, I bet folks will start to seek you out with ideas of their own. You’ll be meeting your clients’ needs for beauty and developing some really innovative work at the same time. You’ll be much happier too, and this benefits everyone.

In our rush to satisfy what we perceive as expectations to please others, we sometimes just about forget the inner world of satisfying our own needs.

The home of the creative spirit, given any chance at all, will reveal its divine, miraculous capacity to heal, to make us whole, and to lead us to ever greater success as well as pleasure. Remember pleasure?