Transforming One's Self

"In all our creativity, we destroy and rebuild the world, and at the same time we inevitably rebuild and reform ourselves." --Rollo May

Creativity for me, and I would think for most people, is a window into one's soul. I don't just mean a window for other people to look through and see a piece of me...it provides a window for me to see myself more clearly.

I learn so much about myself through the simple act of working with my hands. Using my hands to create/form something new connects me with the world and with myself. I am able to shut out all of the "noise" around me that comes from our giant to-do lists. I am taken to a peaceful place where I don't worry about the dishes, or the laundry, or who I need to call, or the drama that's going on with a friend, etc.... I am just simply there - sitting, creating, thinking, dreaming. I am able to find that peaceful spot where I feel connected with myself and am then able to look deeper into my heart/soul and deal with what I find.

Art has helped to teach me who I really am - me, Erin Drez. It's been a tool and a safe space to shut out the world and the voices of "do this" "do that" "this is right" "this is wrong", and find what I think and believe for myself. I have a much stronger sense of who I am because of the artistic venture I have been on.

"The creative individual is the one who not only attempts to make some order out of his music or art but to make some order in his own life." --Rollo May

At this point I am trying my best to follow my interests with my art. I've always struggled because I've been told I have a talent for drawing & painting but I find myself often wanting to do more crafty-type projects, rather than the traditional "fine art." It's hard for me to let go of what I think I "should" do and follow what I want to do.

A good example of someone who followed his heart and stayed true to himself is Rembrandt. In his younger years he was a very successful painter and was selling his work right and left. As he grew older and experienced tragedy in his life (the death of his wife & children), his paintings changed and had a more somber feel which made them less attractive to buyers. His popularity and success were gone by the time he died, but over the years as people have begun to study his work he is considered one of the greatest painters that ever lived because of the transformation that happened. The transformation of himself and his art went hand in hand and that is a true artist.

So, my current goal....follow my heart and stay true to myself.

The sad part is, this terrifies me in a lot of areas of my life (not just art) - but I'm going to try.