And so, on the advice of my spirit animal, I became a painter.
Oh, hello. Welcome. You’re just in time for the story of my journey to becoming a visual artist .
I know it sounded like I was finishing , but I was just editing the conclusion. In my 25+ years as a professional writer, l learned to always write the introduction last and the conclusion first.
But again, I’m straying from my point, which is how and why I became a painter.
I came to painting rather later in life than most people. After 15 years of freelance writing and graphic design , and 10 years writing self-help books for creative people, I realized that something was horribly wrong in my life.
As the author of The Leonardo Trait: How Creative People Can Turn Creative Eccentricity into a Life You Love, I had made a living and a life, for a solid decade, out of “helping creative people be more of who they really are.”
But at some point I had stopped searching for who I really was and striving to become that person.
And so I became a painter.
Of course, it wasn’t that simple.
When I realized the extent of my writing-related burnout, I asked myself what I would do if I weren’t writing full-time .
At this point I feel I should mention that my spirit animal is a human toddler.
As such, said spirit animal appeared in my mind holding a half dozen pots of finger paints and a pad of paper.
I should also point out that my spirit animal has never steered me wrong.
And so, on the advice of my spirit animal, I became a painter.
It really was almost that simple. As a photographer from the age of eight, I have a good eye and a flair for color.
I apparently have a bit of natural talent, and I’m all about learning and practice, and people – including potential customers and gallery owners – loved my work.
Through abstract painting, I’ve found a way to express things I never had words for, as a writer.
And so, on the advice of my spirit animal, I became a painter.