Journal Prompt: Write about the moment you realized you wanted to be an artist. Was it a specific event, piece of art, or a person who inspired you? How has that moment stayed with you?
See, I never thought I’d be an artist. Since I was ten years old I’ve been a writer. I blew through all of the Judy Blume books, but it wasn’t until Go Ask Alice when a window opened and I learned I could write about all the shitty things happening to me. And there were a lot.
As far as art went, I didn’t start drawing until my 20s. I sketched things like my sneakers and was good with graphite. I didn’t start painting until Jay broke up with me over the phone. I still wrote, but it was painting that calmed me.
But dedication, ten hour painting days, and art classes, came after I saw a poster from Susan Seddon Boulet in a new age bookstore. She did ethereal, stylized portraits in luminous abstract backgrounds using inks over oil pastels. This was my first introduction to mixed media. I was hooked.
Adding writing to my art came after I took out a book from the library of Frida Kahlo’s art journal and I learned that personal essays could be combined with art.
So this is what I want to do. Write about life and paint pictures to go with them.
In February I am going to make private posts like this one just for subscribing members. I’ve decided to charge 4.99 a month. Less that a tall mocha latte from Starbucks. You and me and five bucks. At least once a week, probably definitely more, I will have a prompt designed to delve into the layers of life, making our writing and our art more reflective and personal.
I’d love to read what your first spark was!
Thanks for reading 🦋😘🦄
XOX
Suzi Blu
Susan Seddon Boulet affected me so deeply when I discovered her art. I bought a deck of oracle cards with all the goddesses she painted years ago. Loved her work so much. Like you I was always a writer first who was also creative, taking abstract courses over some years but never considered myself an artist. In 2014 my mom passed, and it was after her death that I found myself immersed in taking art courses, learning mixed media and how to draw and paint faces..I know I am an artist, but the title never resonated for me..to this day
I’ve been an artist my whole life. I went to college for a semester thinking I was going to be an archaeologist. But I just kept drawing all the time instead of keeping up with homework. That’s when I realized, with a nudge from my mom, that I should pursue art. I’ve had a lot of struggles with mental health in my twenties and thirties, but am hopeful I will be able to make a career creating art and teaching online classes. I really love your writing and art by the way. I resonate a lot with what you’ve been through. 💜💜💜🥰