This topic fascinates me. I chop and change between one thing and another, knowing that to market my work I should just choose one 'thing' but I just can't - I enjoy making in so many different ways and would feel caged if I had to limit myself to only one. I've always admired you for so successfully doing it all...and here, I love how you've described the places you visit as seperate lands. I never really thought about it like that but it makes perfect sense! Thank you for sharing your art and your thoughts x
I guess I’ve got my One True Thing but am comfortable knowing the other things give me joy and add back into the One in unexpected and joyful ways. I’m so glad you pursue all of yours!
I know I say it all the time but I love your small stories so much. I always feel I’m right there, eavesdropping ☺️
Your thoughts on 'one true thing' are really interesting. I wrote about a change of direction I've had recently, and I think the one thing I'd say is to always be kind to what came before. I don't think it matters if we change direction on a weekly basis, or after many years of pursuing a very specific muse, what matters if that you're doing what's important and/or of interest to you at that moment in time. It doesn't de-value what you did before and it doesn't mean what came before wasn't authentic so not to worry. I think we can only be truly happy if we go with our heart - even though hearts sometimes change their mind :-) I love your writing, thank you.
I struggled for years trying to settle on just one thing, felt I couldn't be a 'real artist' - whatever that is - if I didn't find one medium to focus on and devote myself to. I liked how you put it with the fields! I sometimes think of it as a Ferris wheel, cycling through mediums that inevitably come back around when I'm inspired to do them again. For me I think it's a neurodivergence thing - having a busy brain that can never settle on one thing for long, always with multiple thoughts and ideas at once. Seeing other artists who works in multiple mediums has helped me accept that it's OK to be a jack of all trades, to have transferable skills.
This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm both an artist and a curator. As a curator, I know that a consistent style to be important. As an artist, I find my work shifts rather dramatically every once in a while. I've never known quite what to do with that but know I'd get bored if I didn't make space for the work to change. Also, those sketchbook pages are gorgeous!
I love this post— it may be my favorite one yet! It’s interesting to ponder how we come up with our ideas about what “an artist” is. Very often it includes a focus on the one true thing, and that always stopped me before I gave much of anything a try. It took a very long time for me to hear the voices that were telling me that they saw artistry in how I approached everything in life, a long time to understand that for me, like you, there are Many True Things. So now I happily potter about in my world of ponies, paint, plants, and pottery knowing that my hands will never be well manicured, or even entirely clean for that matter! And I love it all!
I’m so happy to hear someone say it’s okay not to have one true thing. For years I did needlework and thought it was my one true thing. Then extreme arthritis in my hands that developed after an accident caused me to give it up. I very nearly gave up creative making altogether because I couldn’t do my one true thing. Then I realized that shifting gears was okay, and now I make all sorts of things. But during all of that, I would’ve loved for someone to say it was okay to not “find my style” or stick with my “one true thing.”
Your thoughts about one true thing could have been spoken directly to me. I have struggled with that theory and felt a bit of guilt when I wander to other creative pursuits. You and your work and words are a beautiful testimony to full creativity.
Hi Cathy! I always love your “few small stories”! For me, I love following along with your art journey as well because of -all your various making. I have been in a few groups where it is all about finding and sharing your “one thing”, and found that difficult. I so appreciate your work and way of sharing as it feels similar to myself. Thank you for courageously being you and going forward your own way and sharing about it all.
Cathy, this was a wonderful newsletter and one of my favorites. I quoted you in my new Substack and thank you for your words of wisdom. Your art and storytelling bring such joy plus inspiration to all our email inboxes! Thank you.
This topic fascinates me. I chop and change between one thing and another, knowing that to market my work I should just choose one 'thing' but I just can't - I enjoy making in so many different ways and would feel caged if I had to limit myself to only one. I've always admired you for so successfully doing it all...and here, I love how you've described the places you visit as seperate lands. I never really thought about it like that but it makes perfect sense! Thank you for sharing your art and your thoughts x
I guess I’ve got my One True Thing but am comfortable knowing the other things give me joy and add back into the One in unexpected and joyful ways. I’m so glad you pursue all of yours!
I know I say it all the time but I love your small stories so much. I always feel I’m right there, eavesdropping ☺️
Your thoughts on 'one true thing' are really interesting. I wrote about a change of direction I've had recently, and I think the one thing I'd say is to always be kind to what came before. I don't think it matters if we change direction on a weekly basis, or after many years of pursuing a very specific muse, what matters if that you're doing what's important and/or of interest to you at that moment in time. It doesn't de-value what you did before and it doesn't mean what came before wasn't authentic so not to worry. I think we can only be truly happy if we go with our heart - even though hearts sometimes change their mind :-) I love your writing, thank you.
I struggled for years trying to settle on just one thing, felt I couldn't be a 'real artist' - whatever that is - if I didn't find one medium to focus on and devote myself to. I liked how you put it with the fields! I sometimes think of it as a Ferris wheel, cycling through mediums that inevitably come back around when I'm inspired to do them again. For me I think it's a neurodivergence thing - having a busy brain that can never settle on one thing for long, always with multiple thoughts and ideas at once. Seeing other artists who works in multiple mediums has helped me accept that it's OK to be a jack of all trades, to have transferable skills.
Hi Cathy, I love all your art work and no one should feel pigeon holed.
This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm both an artist and a curator. As a curator, I know that a consistent style to be important. As an artist, I find my work shifts rather dramatically every once in a while. I've never known quite what to do with that but know I'd get bored if I didn't make space for the work to change. Also, those sketchbook pages are gorgeous!
I love this post— it may be my favorite one yet! It’s interesting to ponder how we come up with our ideas about what “an artist” is. Very often it includes a focus on the one true thing, and that always stopped me before I gave much of anything a try. It took a very long time for me to hear the voices that were telling me that they saw artistry in how I approached everything in life, a long time to understand that for me, like you, there are Many True Things. So now I happily potter about in my world of ponies, paint, plants, and pottery knowing that my hands will never be well manicured, or even entirely clean for that matter! And I love it all!
I’m so happy to hear someone say it’s okay not to have one true thing. For years I did needlework and thought it was my one true thing. Then extreme arthritis in my hands that developed after an accident caused me to give it up. I very nearly gave up creative making altogether because I couldn’t do my one true thing. Then I realized that shifting gears was okay, and now I make all sorts of things. But during all of that, I would’ve loved for someone to say it was okay to not “find my style” or stick with my “one true thing.”
Your thoughts about one true thing could have been spoken directly to me. I have struggled with that theory and felt a bit of guilt when I wander to other creative pursuits. You and your work and words are a beautiful testimony to full creativity.
Having read your opening today:
I’m forever inspired by your work Cathy and just love all that I have purchased from you.
You are undoubtedly multitalented, and I expect you inspire a lot more people than just me.
Thank you for the notes, haven’t quite finished reading them yet. But I always enjoy them. Thank you Cathy.
X
Hi Cathy! I always love your “few small stories”! For me, I love following along with your art journey as well because of -all your various making. I have been in a few groups where it is all about finding and sharing your “one thing”, and found that difficult. I so appreciate your work and way of sharing as it feels similar to myself. Thank you for courageously being you and going forward your own way and sharing about it all.
Cathy, this was a wonderful newsletter and one of my favorites. I quoted you in my new Substack and thank you for your words of wisdom. Your art and storytelling bring such joy plus inspiration to all our email inboxes! Thank you.