
An artist with a message to share.
Hello, everyone. Rather than featuring another artist this month, I decided to jump in and share my personal story as to how I arrived at where I am today. The start of my journey may be somewhat unconventional. After all, I was in my 20’s before I realized that drawing was a talent. I honestly believed that everyone could do it.
While in graduate school, I put together a PowerPoint presentation for a final grade in my Philosophy class. When I could not find an appropriate picture to support my argument for this presentation, I drew one. The positive feedback that I received regarding my drawing was overwhelming. It was the first time I realized that not everyone could draw. And yet, a lot of people were captivated by drawings. This combination of people’s interest in drawings and my need to develop my art skills led me to ask folks if I could draw them or someone they knew. These drawings were free. And even to this present day, I still give away free drawings. Some of you who are reading this post may own one or two of them. Over time as my skills develop and I gain more confidence in my work, my passion for art increases tremendously. At the core of this passion are two main questions that keep me in a perpetual state of learning: Why is it that can I use this talent to bring value to others? And can I make a living as an artist if I choose to pursue this path full-time?
In the past few months, I have learned that a transition from the workforce to become a full-time artist requires developing a different mindset. A mindset that constantly faces fear and is led less by “how” questions and more by “why” questions. Let me be clear, the answers to my “why” questions do not always eliminate the fear. The “why” questions narrow my focus to pursue my desire outcome, namely, to use art to bring value to others.
As I continue my journey, I find an oasis in learning the stories behind the work of other creators. Was it Tony Robbins (https://tonyrobbins.com/) who said that “success leaves clues?” He is right. Although each of us possesses a unique gift, we live shared experiences. Our stories will often serve as a refuge place of encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment for many people, even ones with whom we have never met.
Although this website began as a vehicle to sell my NFT art, my vision quickly expanded. I developed a strong desire to share this site as a platform where I and other creators can share our stories. What are we contributing to the world? What is our why? Where can we be contacted, so that we can reach others with our message?
I genuinely would love to hear from you. If you would like to share your story or just say “hello”, click on this link and leave a comment https://tamekaart.com/contact/. You may also click on the box below to subscribe to this website to receive words of wisdom from other artists. Thank you for taking time to read this blog.