Today marks the first of a new monthly series here at Be Small Studios. Dear Young Artist is a series of letters written by artists, men and women who paint with pigment (or perhaps with words, song, pie-making, play dates…) to encourage young artists and speak honestly about the work of creating. The series was inspired by this letter written by Makoto Fujimura. Today we welcome Emily Freeman – a writer whose artistry has inspired and taught me much more than I can paint in words. Enjoy.
Dear Young Artist,
It feels strange and uncomfortable in a way for me to be writing to you because I feel like a young artist myself. Not in terms of age, but in respect to practice and calling and purpose.
I have so much to learn.
I suppose that is my first point. As you grow into your craft and practice it more, a feeling of competency and arrival will probably never accompany it.
It’s like when I first brought twins home from the hospital – I couldn’t believe the doctors and nurses allowed me to take them. Shouldn’t a responsible grown up be in charge? But I looked around and my husband did too and all we saw was each other.
We didn’t feel capable but we didn’t have time to wait for our feelings to catch up with our reality. There was too much work to do.
If you are waiting to feel qualified, certified or professional, stop. Give yourself permission to work from your smallness, from your humility and your humanity.
You will probably never feel like a “real artist.” It’s okay. In the meantime, there are a bunch of messy, failing, brave strugglers doing the work of art – you’re welcome to join us whenever you are ready.
Speaking of being human, remember you are one. You have limits and these limits can be a gift if you are willing to see them that way. Remember how God poured his divinity into humanity in the form of a tiny, helpless baby. Don’t consider yourself above him by thinking that the sky is the limit and if you just had more time/energy/talent, you can get there one day.
The sky is only the limit if you are an airplane. If you are human, your feet will nearly always be planted firmly on the ground. That is where they must be for you to do the kind of work that keeps you touchable, broken, but somehow at the same time, unbreakable.
Creativity doesn’t involve a magic potion. The great artists you admire don’t have a special visiting from a fairy muse. They don’t wake up feeling inspired or breathing out sparkly dust of wisdom and talent.
They wake up needing coffee and a shower just like you. And then they get to work. And often their work looks like a lot of hair twirling, window staring, and procrastinating. But they don’t give up. They persevere through the boredom and the discouragement and distractions and they are most of all willing to create awful art.
John Mayer says there is no such thing as a bad song, only an unfinished song. When you’re in your room with the door shut, create ugly work. Make it messy. Embarrass yourself. Finger paint. Write bad songs. Write horrible sentences.
Stop waiting for the Muse. She isn’t coming.
There is only you, but that is actually more than you might realize. You are made by design by the hand of God – made in his image and given a job to do. There are things you are good at and there are other things you aren’t so good at. Delight in his companionship in the midst of both.
I know when you begin to create you might be tempted to avoid seeking out the work of artists you admire. I made this mistake when I first started out, fearing their voices would be in my head and I would not know the difference between them and me.
Do the opposite of that. Learn the value of being taught how to do something. Let yourself be a learner.
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They didn’t hide out in a cave alone and work out how to pray by themselves. They went to their Maker and asked to be taught.
And the Teacher said to them, “When you pray, say this: Our Father who is in Heaven. Your name is holy.”
First, we learn by copying. Only after that can we make it our own.
Let the work of your mentors marinate in your head. Soak in the art of those you admire and let them inform your work like a great cloud of witnesses. Let them mingle in your head and have tea with one another. Listen in as they trade ideas and inspiration. Read several books at once and let them spar.
Read Madeleine L’Engle, N.D. Wilson, Shel Silverstein, Dr. Suess, and C.S. Lewis. Read Jane Austin and the Bible, poetry and history, your favorite childhood books.
The art you make as a result of sitting under their influence will be richer for it.
If your art is writing, read. If your art is music, listen. If you art is painting or dancing or sewing or cooking – watch, handle, touch, taste.
If your art is mothering, make friends with other mothers – younger, older, and the same as you. Rub shoulders with those who are doing what you are doing, or what you wish you were doing – learn from them what to do and , if you don’t particularly care for their ways, what not to do.
Stop trying so hard to be original. It will get you stuck inside your own head and your work will become self-indulgent and self-centered.
Work instead to be generous.
In a letter he wrote to Christian artists, Harold Best says this: Art and artists are just one strand in the vast creational weave. Learn the decency and worth of the work of a farmer or a longshoreman or a physicist and then let your art stand cheerfully and humbly alongside their work, but not above it.
I’ll take it further and tell you this – begin to see the artistic potential in, not only your own art, but in the farmer, the longshoreman (whatever that is) and the physicist. They may not identify themselves as artists, but the work they do is art just the same.
Respect them. Learn from them. Ask them questions.
Beware the elevation of your craft above all else. Remember your greatest identity is not artist, but child. Your desire to create is good and comes from heaven, but this desire is not all you are. Even good things cast shadows.
Finally, remember your art is not just a gift to you, as Janice Elsheimer says in her book The Creative Call, “Our gifts are not from God to us, but from God through us to the world.”
Feeling guilty or self-conscious about your art isn’t getting you anywhere. Those thoughts only have the power you give them. Start to see them for the shadows they are. And then, get to work and make art.
Be generous.
Be curious.
Be patient.
And keep a light heart along the way.
Emily Freeman is a writer living in North Carolina with her husband and their three kids. She is the author of three books including her latest, A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, releasing this fall. She also writes daily-ish on her blog, Chatting at the Sky.
Hi Emily (I have a niece, Emily, I call Aunty Em 🙂 I’m saving this post to read and re-read. God is speaking to me and teaching me so much through you. Thank you…I especially loved the following lines,
“Stop trying so hard to be original. It will get you stuck inside your own head and your work will become self-indulgent and self-centered.
Work instead to be generous.” GOOD STUFF, looking forward to this journey.
That is absolutely brilliant!
Ah, beautiful! Leaving here encouraged…
That makes two of us, Becky!
I’m so glad, Becky. I felt the same way reading Emily’s words. So happy to see your name here. Hope all is well with you!
So very, very lovely. Thank you for these beautiful words that resonate softly and deeply. This is one to read over and over again. His blessings over you!
SO inspirational for the “child artist”. Love this to pieces!
ahhhh Emily, once again you write words that shoot directly to my core. God is using you to speak to me.
Thank you.
Beautiful, Emily! I love the reminder that our gifts from God are to be used for His glory as they work through us.
Blessings!
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you!
This is such practical wisdom Emily. I love it that this grandma learns so much about art from you. My child heart is soaking it in.
I very much needed to hear these words today. Feeling a bit overwhelmed and somehow this post relaxed that tensionand freed me to do what can be done today. The rest is in God’s hands!
I’m so glad Emily’s words breathed a little fresh air into your day. Thanks for coming by!
So many great thoughts in this letter. I’m looking so forward to this next book.
“Stop trying so hard to be original. It will get you stuck inside your own head and your work will become self-indulgent and self-centered.”
This is both relieving and great food for thought.
“Remember your greatest identity is not artist, but child.” Beautiful truths here. Thank you, Emily, for an always timely word of encouragement.
I might write that line down somewhere I’ll see it often.
Thinking I will be reading this a few times.
Thank you Emily for the gift your words are to us throught the inspiration of the Father. May your heart be full that you are in His will. You are a blessing in my life.
Too many great lines to highlight. As always, I’m leaving Emily’s words feeling hopeful and energized. Annie, this series sounds great. I’ll be back!
Encouraging words…
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your gifts from God with us…I am feeling more encouraged after reading your words 🙂
Oh man. This is so rich. So beautiful. So inspiring. Thank you Emily, and Annie, your space here is lovely, such a beautiful extension of you. XO
Wonderful words that encourage this reluctant artist in me. I love the idea of delighting “in his companionship in the midst of both”…the things we are good at and the things we are not. I needed that today.
Y’all are so kind. I’m so glad these words resonate.
Annie, thank you for sharing your space with me. What a honor it is to be here.
Beautiful, encouraging words that resonated in my soul and refreshed my heart. Thank you.
Such encouraging words – thank you, Emily!
I love the idea of seeing everyone as an artist. If we’re all made in the image of a creative God, we must all have the capacity for that ourselves…I get chills when I see someone doing what you just know they were created to do.
Thank you both. This, like so many of your recent posts, Emily, is helping me define and appreciate my ‘dream’ and calling. I referred to and linked this post on my blog on Apr 17th… Forgot to come back here and let you know! I think you may be helping me decide that blogging isn’t a part of my dream, but that remains to be seen yet…
Linked this again today.
Thank you!!!!!!
Hi Annie! Love this series and Emily’s beautiful words today. Thank you for inspiring art to be made through all of us 🙂
So incredibly encouraging. I needed this today. Especially this, “Stop trying so hard to be original. It will get you stuck inside your own head…” Thank you, as always, your words inspire.
lovely….just imaging all of those author having tea inside my brain. made me chuckle outloud. my brain mingles people over my 42 years in dreams. childhood friends with those from work, college and high school. and a fictional one may jump in there too. thanks emily from greensboro, nc. this is angel from madison, nc (born and bred in summerfield, nc). keep on lighting the way. i have saved this post to my desktop and plan to mull it over for days to come.