An Open Letter to Artists During a Pandemic
“Art has a voice - let it speak.”
An open letter to artists during a pandemic:
If time at home has you creating more than ever.
If time at home has you creating nothing.
That is perfectly fine.
If you’re happy in your bubble.
If you’re depressed in your bubble.
That is perfectly fine.
If you’re still taking road trips.
If you have too much anxiety to go into a store.
That is perfectly fine.
If you feel joy in the slowing down.
If you feel panic in being stuck.
That is perfectly fine.
If you need a day to do absolutely nothing.
If you have super productive day.
That is perfectly fine.
If you’re doing great at home.
If you need to talk to a professional.
That is perfectly fine.
If you’re all of these things, several times a day. That is fine too. Allow yourself to feel your feelings. Since Michigan shut down in March, I have been riding these waves of extreme emotion: gratitude, resentment, love, fear, joy, uncertainty. There are a lot of things to work through right now, but the world needs you and your gifts.
In these uncertain times people find inspiration in art, in beauty. People are longing for connection. If you have work in you, let it out. Share your creative gifts with the world. In whatever capacity you can. If it’s a doodle in a notebook that no one will see, or a huge public mural, or a song, or a poem, or a digital illustration... whatever you can muster. I guarantee you will feel better for having created. I always do.
Create as much as you can, as often as you can. Be prolific. Make bad work, and make great work. It won’t be great all the time, but don’t fear those mediocre projects. Learn from them and keep improving your skills. Learn to listen to your instinct. Let creativity flow through you. Be an antenna. Let the ideas come through you into existence. Create.
Beauty is everywhere, even in a pandemic. Share it.
“Finish the work, otherwise an unfinished work will finish you.”
“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable.”
In an effort to foster a creatives community I’ve started a Facebook group called Art is a Record, the same name as this blog. I would love for you to join in the fun as we discuss creative living, projects, art, and life.
