The Sketchbook Project

It arrived! The moleskine sketchbook for the sketchbook project 2011 arrived in my mailbox this week. I don't really draw, that's why I became a photographer, though I used be able to when I was in grade school and junior high. I even won a poster contest when I was in the third grade! I am not sure what happened but by the time I was in high school I was having a lot of difficulty drawing. When I was in my freshman year of art school I failed my life drawing class and had to repeat it over the summer. Learning to photograph helped me "see" again and my perspective was much better. By the end of school I was able to draw again but it never came back as naturally as it did when I was younger.

I haven't tried to draw since art school. I keep trying to get myself to sit down and try but much anxiety prevents me from doing so. I feel like I will be back in my life drawing class and won't be able to draw-- I don't want fail again. I was recently very inspired and this is such a cool project, I feel that it will be good for me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as an artist. And hopefully prove to myself that I CAN draw! I don't know how my sketchbook will turn out but I will post my progress as I go along. Please check back often.

Many hats

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Being an artist is hardly straight and narrow. When I got out of photography school I wasn't able to get a job in my field in Boston and I wasn't ready to move to a bigger city at the time. So I realized I had to make a sacrifice - I needed to work outside my field of expertise (way out) and put my creative side on hold. I told myself it was temporary and as soon as I made a little money I would try again and get a creative job. It is now ten years later and I have quite the list of past occupations.

1. Veterinary Receptionist/Veterinary Technician

2. Bio-Pharma (I don't want to talk about. It's hard enough to admit to)

3. Police Dispatcher

4. Receptionist at a doctor's office

5. Receptionist at a cell phone tower company

6. Senior Administrative Assistant at a mutual fund company (current job)

I don't regret working at as a veterinary technician because it has made me a better and well educated pet owner. Being a police dispatcher taught me so much about myself and the world around me. And in both jobs I was helping people-- it was for the greater good. But I have wasted too much time working in offices shuffling papers and having my spirit crushed. I vow to finally free myself and find that creative job. I don't know exactly what I want to do but I want to go to happy place every day and create art. I am hoping that place does exist. Here marks the start of my journey.