I have been taking a weekly art class for almost 6 months now, and I’m really pleased with where I am in my artwork and better yet where it’s going, especially since I have found a way in which to balance it with the rest of my life considering that I work full time and have a family to care for. 

Over the last few months, I’ve learned quite a few new techniques and methods such as under-painting and dry colour mixing, I’ve been open to new styles and more importantly I’ve learned to simply slow down and slowly understand that work happens in stages.

I’m not sure if those of you who visit this blog are artists or not but whatever it is you do, whatever it is that you have a passion for, I strongly encourage you to find some way to incorporate it into your daily life, even if you can only devote 15min a day it’s a start well worthwhile. It’s far too important, and you can’t let things that bring you so much joy just slip away… one of my favourite sayings is “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad”…and like the title of this post, “there’s no power in empty passion”…

So here’s to new discoveries, time to self, and the passion for the things we love most in life… find and hold onto your love!

I’m going to attempt to draft my art philosophy this month, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to take you on this journey with me. This for me will be slightly hard because as we speak RIGHT NOW I don’t quite know what it is; but I’m going to dig deep and find it, determine what my art really means to me and what I want it to mean to you and other viewers.

There’s something that brings me back to art, no matter what happens in life I always find my way back and surely that calling has some purpose beyond being a mere hobby. And no that purpose will not capture everyone but to the few that it does strike, I would find content.

It’s part of my artist journey and even when I think I have found it, it may change, through life it will change. Regardless it would certainly be valuable for me to identify what it is as we speak.

So gradually I’m going to try and address these questions:

• Why do you create art and what does it mean to you?
• How does the creation of art make you feel? What emotions do you wish to convey?
• If the statement refers to a specific piece, why did you choose to represent this piece in this way? What do you call the piece and why? What materials did you use? What are the dimensions of the piece?
• What inspires you? How are your inspirations expressed in your work?
• What message are you trying to convey to the viewer?
• How much time is spent creating your pieces?
• How is your work a reflection of you?
• What artists (living or dead) have influenced you?
• What is your vision/philosophy?
• What are your goals for the future?
• What are your techniques and style and how do these relate to the medium?
• How do your techniques and style relate to your vision/philosophy?