Artist Survival Guide: Re-Invent Yourself, Not The Wheel

An exclusive by author, actor/artist & healer Patricia Rae

I’m a renaissance woman with no reservations exploring any and all facets of my artistry as a performing artist, fine artist, producer, healer, podcaster, chef, content producer and let’s not forget writer. We have one life, so why not explore many versions of ourselves at any point in our journey.

When I am at a crossroads spiritually, where I feel like I am surviving instead of thriving, I am always hard pressed to re-invent myself. My wheels start turning, conjuring up ways that I can alleviate my funk, which becomes an emotional rollercoaster. I am a creative person. At the core of my very being, that is who I am. I literally need to be creating, in order to feel alive.

We need to create.

I believe as human-beings, creating, is an essential part of BEING. I’m not talking about just art. The act of creating is therapeutic to our essence. However, BEING creative in a world, where we are pressured to produce, may seem like a daunting prospect…

Nobody said the act of producing cannot also coincide with the act of creation. Creativity needs to be nurtured in everyone. In school, we were given pieces of construction paper and stick glue with the freedom to explore. As adults, we need to give ourselves the same permission to collage away into the solutions that make our lives vibrant and sustainable.

There is nothing you can not learn or improve at. With online courses, the possibilities are endless. The risk lies within us. Are we willing to fail, until we thrive? As adults we forget to allow for mistakes. Remember, there is always a learning curve that challenges and propels our growth.

We were born to create.

Taking creative risks allow us to discover talents within ourselves that teach us the practice of patience, faith, persistence, courage, joy, acceptance… forgiveness. The action of creating gives us the freedom to explore these emotions in a safe way, while we expand into our artistry. Witnessing growth in small increments, allows us to measure it in concrete terms. And that can be immensely rewarding and satisfying, at any age.

When you finish a piece of pottery that challenged you, a poem you ventured off to write or cook a recipe from a class, don’t judge the process, relish the experience. Where else are we given the freedom to fail without repercussions. Create for the sake of exploring, despite the result. Artistry in every form allows us to take on challenges that stretch ourselves to commune in harmony with the greatest creator of all, the Universe.

We are creators by birthright.

Those small or grand accomplishments, give us the sense of power that as creators we need to flourish. They instill in us free license to be brave, be passionate, be undeniable… That, is a life worth living.

Painting is not the only creative avenue we can explore. I continually challenge myself on adventures of creative growth. I became a certified Yoga instructor 14 years ago at the age of 45! Most of the students in my class were in their 20s but I didn’t let that age gap discourage me or become daunting. Instead I allowed it to fuel my passion by being an example to my fellow classmates that we can re-invent ourselves at any age; with courage and follow-through.

I got my 200 hour certification on October 31st 2010 and I have been healing people ever since… I opened my own healing practice 10 years ago after working for a corporate yoga studio. I ventured into another creative opportunity by opening my own yoga business. Four years later, I became a master Reiki healer.

Re-create yourself, not the wheel.

Several years ago, at another emotional crossroads, I started to feel the need for a vehicle for an emotional release. So I started painting. Seriously painting. And it was a great way to meld two artistic passions. Healing, and painting. I started painting on big canvases. Which I had never done before. My first exploration onto a big canvas, size 46×46 was a disaster. That canvas gave me an emotional breakdown. I was a mess. After that melt down… I had a breakthrough.

I mustered the courage to paint over it. But this time, I came at it with a sense of vigor. It was another disaster. Imagine trying again. Failing again. This was a monstrous size canvas with a big failure painted all over it. I was so lost on this canvas. I had panic attacks.

I sat with the setback for many weeks… But this time I began to arm myself with knowledge. I began digesting art history and techniques, exploring composition and taking more art classes. Then I reframed my mind set, coming at it from different angles, and a new  perspective. The whole process forced me to SEE. It challenged me to embrace my fear of failure. And my fear of success. It taught me the patience to succeed on a big canvas. It sparked a desire to become better at… big canvases.

And guess what. I did. Get better. I love that painting. I named it “The Womb.” It was responsible for the birth of an artist, even though it has two paintings under it. It’s priceless. To me. Because it taught me the value of resistance. I resisted the urge to quit. As a matter of fact, when artists price their work, emotional toil factors into it, because you invest a part of yourself in every piece.

Stop living in black and white. Be bold.

In another re-invention of my prism of light; I ventured into podcasting  a couple years ago. This re-incarnation came from a need to express myself.  Out loud. I needed to talk about all the things that were troubling me about society. Corporate greed. Health. Big Pharma. The government.

So, I created a safe space to express those thoughts. This project was generated with another creative soul, a friend who was also seeking a space to explore his feelings on social issues. It’s called Believe This. Available on Spotify,  or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s really good. I don’t know if anyone is listening. But that’s not the point of art. Don’t create for an audience. Create for SELF expression. Create for yourself.

Creating fuels all areas of life. Creating is life. Creating will help us live a vivid, full spectrum life. And I want to live in color. Continual creation affords us the tools to experiment with every color in our crayon box.

If you build it they will come.

Now, do any of these projects pay my bills? Not at the moment. I want my creations to be the source of income that a survival job would provide. I want to monetize my passions into financial stability. But I won’t stop creating. Because it fuels my spirit. That’s more important. And if I have to work a “survival job” to pay the bills, then I better be fueling my soul too. I believe in my heart that our passions can create the life that we’ve always dreamed of if we keep challenging ourselves to grow, evolve and learn. Be brave. Discover yourself. Over and over.

Patricia Rae, is a Native New Yorker, living and working in Los Angeles who has been gracing our Film & Television screens for over 25 years, since her TV debut on Miami Vice. Nominated for an Imagen award, for best supporting actress in the film Maria Full of Grace. She is a producer, writer, children’s book illustrator and fine artist, healer and writer. Follow her on Instagram @Thepatriciarae