Is This Anything? Every Artist’s Question.

There’s this moment after you snap a Polaroid picture where you wonder is this anything? Will the lighting be right? Will the color look nice? Will everyone’s eyes be open? Is this a keeper? Is this anything?

That’s what the creative process is like for me. I see the result in my mind quite often for many artistic endeavors whether it be through photography, teaching, writing, or art. That’s what imaginative people do, but until we take the risk to take action on the actual work we can’t know if what we see in our minds will translate in real life. 

Creating something takes research, input, reflecting, releasing things on paper, and then using the time, talents, and resources we have to see if we have what it takes to finish the project. What we are taking in to make art often spills out of us in what we say and what we post, sometimes cryptically and sometimes more literally. We enjoy art and want others to join in on what’s bringing us happiness. 

I’ve shared my process publicly through the years, trying out my ideas to see if they sink, swim, or need to be filed for a later date when the time is right. Until you share the art that is bubbling under the surface, you can’t know if it resonates with anyone else, although being relevant is not the goal. Rick Rubin says “An artist makes art for himself, not for the audience; you must like your art before your audience does.” That flies in the face of modern publishing and marketing which wants artists to niche down and put themselves in a box. 

I need to practice writing in a long-form more regularly. I am still adding to last year’s work, but don’t feel it’s ready yet to move forward. When writers get stuck, we are advised to write what we know. Photography mingled with my faith in Jesus is what I could talk to you about in my sleep. It’s so ingrained in me. I hope sharing the process of writing what I know about photography will give me the momentum and motivation I need to just keep writing. 

To help me generate my longer copy, I’ve created an encyclopedia of sorts of 100 prompts from A-Z of this photographer’s life who views it through the lens of faith. 

I’ll be sharing these “snapshots” about life behind the lens with you here and on Instagram because I enjoy talking about what I’ve learned and helping others further their abilities in the process.

Will this develop into that finished pink book you see in the photo above? We won’t know until I shake everything up like a Polaroid picture. As a result of my outward creative process, you’ll gain photography knowledge and encouragement, and I’ll get the daily word count that I need to become a stronger writer.

Let’s get those cameras ready!