BOO!!

Do you know Americans spend over $10 billion on Halloween? Yep. You read that right. BILLION, with the big B.  Costumes. Cards. Goblins. Ghosts. Hairy spiders. To me, THAT is what’s scary about this ghoulish holiday.

Why? I detest it all. I will not spend even one penny.  Does that make me different? You bet your sweet booty it does. But, then, aren’t we all different? Unique? Special?

It took a while for me to understand that as an artist it is critical to create artwork that is mine, and mine alone. You see, when I first started painting I thought I had to paint to please. And that was a disaster. I mean who was I trying to please? Everybody. And just what did “Everybody” like? 

Finally—the “ah ha” moment arrived: As an artist, if I want to make amazing artwork (and I do), I must leverage my differences. I must create art that is utterly personal—authentic art that only I can make—art that represents my very soul.

This makes me vulnerable. It’s risky. It invites fear of imperfection. It conjures up limiting beliefs. It begs the question, “Am I good enough?”

But guess what? If I don’t create art that is MY art, I won’t create art that speaks to YOU. And that would make me very sad.

Kiss Me

Judith Kolva, artist