On Being an Artist

thrift joy, we need your art, line by line

ESSAY | On Being an Artist

I was putting the final touches on this week’s essay when I abruptly moved it to drafts and found myself staring once again at the blank screen. This wasn’t a bad blank screen, it wasn’t scary, in fact, I was ready. Not only ready but I was bursting at the seems with excitement and joy about a topic that is quite relatable on this platform : ART.

Just about a week ago, my copy of WE NEED YOUR ART by

Amie McNee

arrived at my doorstep and I set down everything else, cracked it open and began reading. I am not stretching when I tell you that this book is helping me fall in love with being an artist all over again in a huge way.

Page by page I’m reading Amie’s words and I’m feeling them being absorbed deeper into my brain and into my heart. Being an artist is the best. In all honesty, there isn’t anything else on the planet I’d rather be. Nothing else even comes close. Artist or bust. (I also have a day job that pays the bills that I do thoroughly enjoy, but I know who I am.)

Anyways, artists, it’s the way we see things, the way we mold things, the way we take an empty space and give it life. I love how I never get bored, and how art slows me down. The vast array of visual language and written word from every corner of the globe. The awe that plucks my heart strings. I’ll never get over it.

Lastly, aren’t artists the best? They are! The way they dress, talk, create, live. I’m obsessed. I’m obsessed.
I’m proud. I’m learning.
And I will never tire of humbly holding my ground in this group of curious, expressive, bright people.

As always, would love to hear your thoughts. Do you feel the same? I know that art can be challenging in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons so maybe you don’t agree, let me know in the comments!

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ART | Photography, Poetry, Collage, Music, Documentaries & more

Since I was already talking about Amie’s book above, I thought I’d pull one of my favorite quotes from it to share with you.

“At the end of an incredible meditation or breath work session, you have had to confront yourself, your mind, your ego. You have witnessed yourself. And it is so beautiful and beneficial. At the end of a creative session, you have also had to confront yourself, your mind, your ego. You have had to witness yourself, and then you made something with it. You have a culmination, an alchemy, physical evidence. You have a little bit of you in art form. I’ll say it again: creativity is the missing pillar in self-development.
Creation is the opposite of stagnation. It is momentum. It is power. It is agency. And that’s the triumph of making art. It’s why creativity is worth it…”

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LIFESTYLE | Kitchen, Home, DIY & more

For the longest time, anytime I went into a thrift store I went straight to the books, gathered an exciting little haul and headed back out. I never really looked for house stuff because we were always moving and I assumed because it’s hard for me to find clothes in a store it wouldn’t be easy to find them thrifting. You know what they say, never assume.

My mom is the queen of the thrifters so when she asked me to go to a local place I hadn’t been yet I said why not. I wandered over to the clothes and began trying on and the flood gates opened. I found the cutest sweaters, most brand new for less than a drip coffee. At one point the kind lady working said, “You’re having a lot of fun, aren’t you?” She was right.

I walked out of there with a STACK of clothes (mostly brand new) for less than I’d spent on a coffee and lunch. I was on cloud 9, my first dose of thrifting high. I’ve been a couple times since and there’s nothing like it!

Why thrift shopping rocks:

• Unique! You have the chance to find things that you simply can’t find in the store.

• You can’t beat the price! I bought a beautiful Gap sweater today for .50, yes, fifty cents!

• Better for the earth. I love this reason! Reduce, reuse and recycle.

• A couple weeks ago I bought the cutest suit jacket that I plan on bringing on our Eurotrip this summer. It was made in U.S.A. and vintage. I paid $3. Would I go by a suit jacket at the mall? Definitely not. I’ve never even been in that section. When you thrift you can make funky choices with very little risk.

• Like books for collage, treasure hunting is truly the best. You never know what you’re going to find. What a thrill!

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MANA STUDIO | Updates From My Studio

It’s been another exciting week of experimentation and play. Line by line, page by page I’ve been filling up my sketchbook. I’ve gone through a couple more Skillshare classes and I’m currently in the depths of a long one on drawing. It’s been such a good feeling to create without pressure and follow where my interests are bringing me. I truly can’t wait to see where this leads.

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Thank you for reading Norden Morning. This publication is created without AI - it’s all me, artist/mother in my late 30s living life and sharing about it from my favorite little corner of the couch.

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