The List - Part 2

On the one hand, I believe we all do what we want to do in life. On the other hand, there are so many wonderful, delicious options that many people can’t find enough time to do all the things they want. I have many retired friends who get up in the morning and literally run through their day to fit it all in. Some are having fun and others have traded the overwhelmed feeling of work and raising a family to the stress of ongoing pleasure and fun.

I spent most of my life believing I didn’t have any artistic talent. When I was going through a difficult time in my life, about ten years ago, I decided to start painting. I still didn’t believe I had any talent, but I wanted to see if I could tap into the creative part of me.

As a side note, I’m often frustrated when people talk about talent in art. It’s assumed if one wants to be a great musician, it is going to take hours of practice to reach any level of proficiency. Why do we assume if one is an artist, he or she was born with the ability? Just like any other endeavor, art takes practice, learning and effort. Are there people who are born with a natural inclination to be great painters? Absolutely. I’ve spent most of my adult life helping people connect to their natural gifts. Regardless of the talent; communicating, leadership, organizing and art, there is learning that one needs to engage to reach a level of mastery. Even if you don’t have any talent, you can learn and enjoy most any activity. I think humans are naturally endowed with a need to create. It may not be painting, but deep inside each of us is the desire to tap into creative expression.

Painting has become an important part of my life. Unless I’m traveling, I’m at the Phyl Doyon Gallery and Studio every other Tuesday. I started painting in watercolor and most of my art is in that medium. I’ve occasionally branched into acrylics and collage. I also enjoy making my own paper, which I use as a canvas for other art.

Several years ago, I was at the Thousand Oaks Art Walk occurs every June attracting artists from all of the country. There are rows and rows of artists who work in every art form imaginable. On this particular day, I went up and down the rows and thought how much I’d love to learn how to work in pastels, make jewelry, pottery, and photography. As I completed the tour, I became really sad. I realize there is not enough time to do all the art I want to do; nor enough time to take all the trips I want to take or learn all the subjects I want to know. I occurred to me that having too many choices results in the same feeling as not having enough choices. We can not have it all. If getting more is what we seek, then we are doomed to never having enough.