The idea of being an artist is filled with illusions and romanticizing.  I loved the idea, the image presented to me of what it ‘meant’ to be an artist.  I used to think being an artist was a destination, a place you eventually get to and everything would be perfect. LOL. That was back when I was a kid and knew nothing.

This isn’t unique to art.  In fact, it’s all about the mind and the illusions it creates, because it does this all the time (for example with romanticizing relationships).  It’s the same old unconscious, unrealistic idea that ‘once you get there it will be perfect and you’ll be permanently happy’ and it’s based in a future that doesn’t exist.

It’s the attachment to an identity, whether it’s artistic or something else that’s the problem.  I work as a software engineer, but I definitely don’t define myself as one!  Why would I?  It’s a job, something I do for money, for survival. And if I didn’t do this job, it would be something else.  Yes, to me it’s preferable to many other jobs, but I still view it as just a job.

Art can also be used as an identity.  Or it can be used as the lack of identity you wish to have, but don’t – for example, it can feel as if you’re not doing something as a job, it doesn’t count.  I used to feel this way.  Many people are selling the idea of the artist’s life, but are they really doing art, really engaging in the mastery process?  And if a so-called professional artist only spends 30% of their time on art as I’ve heard many claim, well I can also do that with my job at least for a while.  It doesn’t necessarily make me less of an artist.  I also think that working on something over time, on the side, can be even more valuable.  It takes pressure off you, especially financially. This is something that as time goes on, I see more and more how valuable it actually is.  I used to think I couldn’t ever be a real artist if I had a ‘real’ job. What a bunch of bull shit! Of course, it depends on how you define ‘artist’. But to me, the definition is skill and always has been. No amount of fame would make me classify someone as an artist if they aren’t skilled.

Another aspect of this is the journey vs destination. I have to admit that when travelling, I definitely value the destination. The time to get there usually sucks and especially the way back I find awful, as the vacation is over. But with art and also with music, I have learned to value the journey. The joy is in the doing. I view both music and art as a kind of meditation, a way of being completely in the moment. I’m in the moment more than ever when doing these things. This is why, while I find AI obnoxious and wish it would just go away, it doesn’t threaten me. AI is in many ways short cutting the whole mastery process, especially when it comes to art. And if someone is using AI just to take a shortcut, they just don’t understand the mastery process or the value in it.

So throughout the course of my life, I feel I’ve overcome the artist illusion and found something much greater and much more valuable.  I’m so glad I tried, instead of just listening to society and following what most people do.  It’s challenging, but so much more rewarding.  So, if you find yourself interested in art – don’t ever believe the BS that if you’re not magically doing art full time, you’ve failed or don’t have a chance.  You only fail at something if you give up.  And even if you give up, if it’s because you discover something isn’t right for you, then that’s great progress in self discovery. And isn’t that what life is all about?