Taking Inventory

There are times when doubt tries to creep into our lives and we question the path we are on. This has been me for a while now. I know I want to teach art, but I started this process during the most tumultuous time for education during my life. I have made plenty of teacher-friends who on a regular basis ask me "Do you really want to do this?" I know their arguments. I witness the truth of their statements both directly and vicariously through them. And it has left me wondering... until tonight, when I took inventory.

While my mom attended college courses to become an elementary school teacher, I was old enough to tag along. Her art classes were my favorites. It was here my introduction to the arts really began and time spent waiting on her was often used to draw.  At home, I would watch her work on projects. When I went to college, I knew it had to be art related and was blessed to be able to go for graphic design, as well as a business degree... my Pop wasn't sure I could make a living in art and wanted me to have something to fall back on if it didn't work out. After college, my first "real" job was working in an architecture firm as an office administrator... I did the everyday secretarial duties, but I also was quick to pickup CAD and served to help with the technical drawings that we produced. The software was much like that of the design programs I had learned in college. My next job was as a graphic designer. So roughly 4 years of providing for my family with art. It was during this time that I started a stockpile of art supplies with the greatest of intentions to create project after project.

One of my biggest excuses... I have no space to work where I can leave it out and come back to it as time allows. I now have that. It's not "perfect" or finished, but it allows for me to work on numerous projects as time allows and to utilize the very stockpile that I had built from early on. Here are a couple of shots of my studio space:

I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in a master designer who formed each of us as individuals. I was designed to be an artist, to love art and everything related to it, and to share my love. After taking this bit of inventory... I realized that I have no excuses not to continue on the path that has been laid out for me. Where will it take me, I don't know. The one thing I do know is, it is definitely art related.

I challenge you to take your own inventory today. Compare where you want to go with where you've been and see how it lines up. You may be surprised and encouraged!