Creative Spirit Blog October 16, 2025 Standing in Your Power

Eternalism Monoprint in Collage

“The minute I sat in front of a canvas, I was happy.  Because it was a world, and I could do as I liked”.                                                                         Alice Neel

There are two components to a true artist’s work: our style and our technique.  And both are as unique as our signature.  Whether we choose to express ourselves in a representational, abstract, or nonobjective way, it needs to reflect who we are as people.  We can appreciate all styles, but what we are best at doing as artists is unique to us.  How we see things, filter them, and move them from our mind and soul, through our hands, and into a work of art, should reflect who we are. If they do not, we are not standing in our power. 

People like to emulate people they admire. We also often see things we like and say, “I want to do that”. But the fact is, it might not be who we are.  I have written a lot lately about allowing ourselves time to play, so we can see what we enjoy and what is right for us. When we find the medium and style we enjoy, our own uniqueness is going to be reflected in our work

I love to learn new things, and try new things, but ultimately, I return to doing art the way I enjoy creating, using nature as my muse and objects from nature.   However, those other things I learned make me grow, because they make me see with new eyes and view my work in a new way. Every new experience helps an artist, or anyone for that matter, view things in a new way.

Yes, I bring aspects of what I learned with me, some I apply to my work. I pick what will enhance what I do. Using it in a way that makes it uniquely mine. It is part of the growing process.

People pleasing is one of the great problems in society.  Many talented, creative people make sacrifices in their expression to gain approval, make a sale, or because what they do is easy, successful, and they are afraid they might fail if they “knocked it up a notch”.

To access our power, we must honor who we are, our individual talents and interests.  We must trust ourselves enough to follow our heart and be confident enough to let who we are show through in our work, expressing ourselves in the way that shows who we are! 

I took a chance with the painting posted with this blog.  I put together several different techniques in a new way to express my love of trees and the cycle of life they represent. I had fun!   We all need time to play and experiment with new things.  Some will enhance our work, others will just not feel right. 

Take a deep breath and ask yourself this important question. Am I standing in my power doing something that reflects who I am or am I trying to stand in someone else’s power?

Think about the power of the empty canvas.  It is our world and only we have control of it.  How often in life do we have something we can do, with no real restrictions. Put down what you feel! Stand in your power.

“As for myself, my aim has always been to paint or draw that which gives me pleasure, the principle being that if an artist is not happy with his work, then others will not be happy with it either.”           Pierre Alechinsky