Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Ideal Job

      If I could instantly wake up one morning with all the qualifications and training I needed, I would probably want more than anything else to be an artist.  Not just any artist, but an animator.  I would like to be someone who could easily work for Disney bringing magic alive on the big screen.  It is a pipe dream I have had since I was a little girl.  The ideal job for me would be freelance and something I could do from home so I could be available for my kids as they grow up.  I would want to work in computer animation  on movies or in television.  If I am allowed to dream, I might as well dream big, right?  

 
 

      This is the very first job that came to mind when faced with NaBloPoMo’s prompt for today.  What can I say?  There is still a small smidgeon of a dreamer left in me that everyday reality hasn’t quite beat out.  I don’t dwell on it.  For years I buried my art supplies in the back of the closet leaving my dreams in the past.  Recently I was overcome with the need to see if I could still draw at all. It had been so long.  I grabbed a sketch pad, dusted off my old art bin, and drew a couple quick portraits of my kids, just for $hits and giggles.  

       To my amazement, the lines flowed easily and my heart soared.  I had forgotten the fulfillment I felt from my art.  It came easily back to me.  I wondered why I had given it up at all when it was something I had enjoyed, lived, and breathed for so long.  Why did I let that part of me lay dormant so long?  Thinking back, I think that at that time of my life I emotionally could not focus on anything but the upheaval I was facing with my divorce and my mother’s death.  It was too much.  Creatively, I shut down.  Life was just too intense to add the pressure of perfecting a portfolio that would be my meal ticket to the equation.


        At this point in my life, I have found the perfect creative outlet in my writing.  After my mother died, my creative outlet shifted to music and I played the piano for hours on end perfecting my technique.  It filled the long lonely hours after work until bedtime perfectly.  I lost myself in the music, much as I lost myself in my art before that.  It was a fair exchange.  Finally, my creativity manifested itself in writing and essentially I delved into becoming an artist of words. Who would have thought it? So, my dream job would find me doing something creative.   Being creative has always been easy for me.   One day, I hope to be able to fill my days doing all three, but until then I will stick with the writing and dabble occasionally in drawing because it comes so easy and is fun until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

24 comments:

  1. What a great career that would be--to be a digital animator!! Awesome sketches of your kids too. You do have the art thing going on!!

    I have trouble drawing that stick figure guy when we play hangman with the kids--lol--so I admire people who can draw. I can do 3-D sketches of polygons pretty easily--but I think everyone can. LOL.

    My creative outlets are writing, photography, graphic design, and singing. I love to sing!! Not what I once was--but good enough to not make the dogs howl. HA HA.

    Cheers! Jenn

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    1. Jenn, I think it would be fun. LOL I think I would be in the same dog howling choir right along with you!~! LOL Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!! ♥

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  2. Those are wicked good portraits! Maybe you could offer to do portraits of people's kids? Or their homes? I bet you'd get lots of takers!!! When I was little my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said, 'an artist'. She said, 'you'll starve'. So after a long and unfulfilling careers as a paralegal, I'm unemployed and free to make crafts. I am poor but content. lol

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    1. JoJo, being content is a good thing!! When I think about it, I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be an artist. Sadly, getting paid for it is about as likely as making money writing. It is like winning the lottery. Still it is fun, and a great hobby. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. I love your sketches! I think they'd be great in a children's book... I would have loved to spend my days drawing. I just occasionally amaze the kids with a little something on a napkin. Just hearing, "Mommy! You can draw like that?!" makes my day.

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    1. Socamom.com, my kids tend to make all over my art too. Kind of funny really, because I rarely show them any of it. LOL When I do, they are amazed and like you it makes my day. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. I am so pleased you enjoyed reading my blog and seeing my sketches! ♥

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  4. You know how much I love seeing your sketches! I see a great idea above here...drawing your own sketches in a children's book which you wrote.

    I think you could and should do that.

    Your talents are just endless, or so it seems. That's such a blessing.

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    1. Jo, now there is a thought. It is a blessing, just makes me wonder what G0d intended for me to do with the talents he gave me. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  5. You should never stop dreaming about being an artist Kathy. Especially when you have such talent. Do get out the sketch pad whenever the mood strikes you.

    It's a shame that it seems to take all the money we can scrape together these days just to exist. I wonder if you'd be eligible for one of these grants they keep advertising. I know it takes a lot of money for training, building a portfolio and getting into the business. Never give up Kathy, keep searching for a way. Everyone needs a dream.

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    1. Betty, I don't really know. It does take every dime to just exist and even more than I have to keep up with the bills. I still have the portfolio deep in the recesses of my closet. However, at this point it probably all would need updated and new skills learned which is just daunting. Unfortunately raw talent won't get you a job. I actually went to two interviews for art positions years ago and was discouraged to ever try again. Both said I had entirely too much talent for an entry level position. Yeah, really. So neither hired me. They both thought I would be bored. Whatever. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments but I think that boat has passed me by. At least I can share my work here occasionally which is something. ♥

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  6. When I was younger I used to dream of becoming a writer first, and an artist second...my parents didn't react particularly well to those ideas. So I trained as a scientist, then changed careers when the research funding ran out and ended up in HR...I used to spend all my free time in galleries admiring the heroes of my more creative youth.

    Now that I have so much spare time on my hands I write a blog...but not much else owing to confidence issues with story telling.

    Please share more of your sketches Kathy, I love seeing them! :)

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    1. Loki-Lou, to share more I will have to make more. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. I love your blogs and find them highly entertaining. I am so glad you write!! ♥

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  7. Craetivity runs like a river - it ebbs and flows. So glad you are feeling yours crest again and are enjoying the fulfillment you get from it. I love your words and teh sketches you've shared with us are beautiful.

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    1. Amy, I am so pleased you enjoyed reading my blog and seeing my sketches. Thank you so much for stopping in to read and for your kind comments. My creativity seems most of the time to run out of time. I usually only have enough to get the writing part done but will have to do more sketching. ♥

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  8. Your so talented, Kathy. Your sketches and your word pictures are excellent. I'm sure it's never too late to go after your dreams - do please! ♥

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    1. Corinne, you are very kind!!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments. I so appreciate them! ♥

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  9. Oh my those are good! I think that would be an awesome job! I used to always watch "The Making Of" on the DVD's for movies animated or otherwise.. . always fascinated me!

    Thanks for linking up Kathy!

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    1. Larissa, they fascinate me too!! I just love them and can only imagine how cool it would be to be apart of such a creative venture. I am proud to link up, only a tad embarrassed because I didn't think to link up till Friday when I fully intended attending your party in all its splendor on Thursday!! Count me in for next week Larissa!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  10. hi. just found your blog today. great artwork. being creative is such a gift. i would love for you to stop by my blog and follow if you like it.

    http://www.blackinkpaperie.blogspot.com

    thanks
    new follower bev

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    1. Bev, I am so pleased you stopped by! I would be happy to follow you. Thank you for your kind comments and for your visits. ♥

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  11. I found your post through Papa is a Preacher's link party. I've always believed in having big dreams and have admired Walt Disney's work for years. I think it's great you've started drawing again and should follow your heart. I just started writing again through my blog and I'm loving the challenge to be creative every day. We were born to create.

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    1. Dawn, yes we were!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  12. Creative is definitely a priceless skill. And you should be very proud of yourself for having that. Keep writing as I find your writing very enticing.

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    1. Journey of Life, I am so thrilled you enjoy what I write. Thank you so much for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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