I read an article by an artist who mentors developing artists. She said that it is essential to find your own voice as an artist.

I’m not formally trained as an artist, so I have only the vaguest idea of what that really means.

I do know that doing art helps me find my voice, both as an artist and as a person.

Yesterday I learned something more about “your own voice as an artist.”

My husband and I went to the Illinois Railway Museum, for the first time this year, to draw. It’s a rite of spring.

We both drew the Southern Pacific 1518.

My drawing:

Harold’s drawing:

You can see more of his artwork on his blog, I Am An Artist.

It’s clear from these drawings that we each have our own voice.

This reminds me of a quote that I love by Martha Graham, who was an American dancer:

“There is a vitality, a Life Force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action.
And because there is only one of you, for all time, this expressionis unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.

The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that activate you.

Keep the channel open.”

By Martha Graham
Written to Agnes de Mille

Filed under: Being a Reinventer, Adventures of a Reinventer, Lynne's Reinvention Journey on April 13th, 2009