I remember growing up and people seeing my art and saying, "You are going to be a famous artist someday!"

I have made art since I can remember. My art shone out in class and was noticed by others. Great art for my age, that is. 

Now that I am all grown up! (That is a matter of opinion.) I am still making art only now I'm getting serious about it. 

I have a mentor, and I'm entering shows. I have a website and a studio! I even have goals of how I want to proceed with my art. It feels like now that I am retired I have the time to put into it. I have life experience I can tap into. 

 

It's not that I stopped being an artist. I've always been there. I see the world through an artists eyes. I remember when I minored in agriculture and joined the livestock judging team for University of AZ and my coaches would say, "Jacque judges livestock with an artist's eye." When I became a minister my prayers and sermons often had vivid images that I described.I used my creativity in other ways. 

 

I have been called an "Emerging Artist". What does that mean? It is someone who is at the beginning of their artistic career and is just starting to gain recognition in the art world. It means I'm just starting to exhibit in a few shows and I'm looking to become "recognized".  Another way of looking at an emerging Artist is one who is discovering new ways to express their art. They may move from sculpting to painting which is more like Emerging in new directions or transitioning. Picasso had many periods of transition from his Blue Period to Cubism and finally Surrealism. 

 

The goal, so it seems, is to become an "Established Artist." This is an artist that has an extensive body of work and has consistently garnered national and international acclaim. That would be my undergraduate art professor, Sam Scott. Someone who has contributed significantly to the field of art and has a sustained reputation. This is when you get your art in museums and are represented by important galleries. An Established Artist has a global achievement, acquired by collectors, institutions and their art retains a value. 

 

I'm not sure I'll ever make it to the "Established Artist" stage. And that is ok. Its a way of generalizing where you are in your career. If you are an actor you can make a fine living as a character actor, and even become famous. Say like, J.K Simmons. Then there are Movie Stars that everyone knows around the world like Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep. Famous. But there are millions of artists who lend their talents and creativity to the world who are not famous. And they are doing just fine. Not everybody can be Meryl Streep.

 

As artists we can fall somewhere in between and I'm ok with that. All I know is that I can't quit making art. It lives with me until it comes out somewhere in my dreams, in my poetry, or on canvas. And my art career means I put it out there for you to see. And if it touches you and wants to live with you that is an artist's dream come true.