Finding your why
Helloooo!
It’s been a while. I find it really hard to write blogs because I never know what to write about, but I went to an amazing workshop a few weeks ago that has blown my mind and I can’t stop thinking about it. It. was a free session run by Arbeit studios, a great company that provides studio spaces for people all around London, who I have worked with previously painting a mural for their Palmer’s Green Site.
Arbeit Palmers Green site
The workshop was all about artist statements, something I’ve not really written much of before because I don’t see myself as that kind of artist who exhibits in galleries. I came prepared with what I thought was quite a good statement that showed exactly what I did, who I’d worked with and what I bring to the table. Turns out, it was less of an artists statement and more of a pitch and didn’t really convey why I do things and how. It didn’t show me as a person and what my artwork is about.
The workshop really dug into the narrative of our work and it was like telling people a story that would really show how we came to this work and why we love what we do.
Hard at work at the workshop!
At first I was just like…… I love colours…. they make me happy… I didn’t think I had any deep and meaningful story like the rest of the artists around me. They all had big reasons or life changing things that lead to them creating their work. I just really love colours!! But as we dug deeper and looked at other artists statements and talked about how we described our work, it all started to make sense to me. My brain just clicked and after the workshop I just couldn’t stop writing about the reasons why I do what I do. I realised that all along, I’ve been trying to recreate the fun and safety of childhood.
When you’re a kid you’re surrounded by colour and excitement. Playgrounds were colourful and full of adventure, your classrooms were filled with artwork and your clothes were brightly coloured! What’s there not to love?! And then when we get older everything gets more boring and colourless. Our clothes get greyer, our work environments are boring and lifeless and we stop playing.
Weston Turville primary school playground
I’d discovered my ‘Why’ again. It made me see that all I want to do is make the world more colourful because then I can make everyone happier and more excited to be in different spaces. I want to transform the world into a playground. I want it to be full of colour and make people feel something when they walk into the space. I want it to feel like they’re somewhere else and feel like a child again. I guess it’s like discovering our inner child again and seeing the world in a more exciting way and seeing the possibility of play.
I guess that’s why my work is so well received in schools because they’re already in that zone of play and colour. But it’s always interesting to see adults reactions to my work because you can just see their little faces light up and see how excited they are to be entering the transformed space. When I paint a space I just want it to make you smile when you walk in, I want people to feel welcomed in a happy warm hug! I equate colour with a feeling of joy because it instantly makes me want to be in that space and makes me feel calm to be in bright and cheerful spaces.
Fellow colour lover Julia Ferrari loving her garden mural
But it’s so interesting to just take a step back and think about why you do what you do. You can just float around and keep doing what you’re doing and forget about why you started doing something or the reason it works for you. I know I’d just stumbled into this mural painting and just kept going but not really understanding why it was so important for me to be doing this work, thought it was just a fun way to be an artist! But I now know that I’ve been building up to this my whole life through all the things I did as a child and an adult and the way I’ve made life work for me. I dress like a child, I instantly make friends with kids because I have a childlike personality and I enjoy playing games and being silly. It’s what qualifies me to be a bringer of childlike joy to the world!
So what is the point you ask?!
If you’ve never stepped back and thought about why you do what you do, then I would highly recommend it.
Think about the reason you started?
What your work is about?
Why you do it?
What qualifies you?
The intention of your work?
It can help you see what it’s all about! It’s now made me so focused on what I want to do and achieve and it actually helps me talk to people about my work because before I’d just say I liked shapes and colours. Now I have a better understanding of it, I can express myself better! Yaaay! Less awkward conversations not really knowing what to say about myself!
But anyway, it’s really helped me really see what it’s all about and I feel so good about it! Hopefully it can help you see what your ‘why’ is too and bring some clarity on what you need to do to keep fulfilling your potential.
Laters potatas!