The Artist's Vision of Self in the Process of Personal and Professional Growth
By Renée Phillips

Renée Phillips is the Director of Manhattan Arts International, an author of several books and a public speaker. She is known as "The Artrepreneur Coach" and provides empowering life and career strategies for creative individuals.

I am encouraged by artists in the visual, performing and literary arts who have achieved extraordinary things in their lives by first changing their perception. They stepped outside the proverbial box, dared to take a risk, refused to listen to the naysayers, and/ or turned tragedy into triumph in the process of creating their personal and processional growth.

As "The Artrepreneur Coach" for more than 25 years I have had the pleasure of meeting with thousands of creative individuals from around the globe who have shared their most private desires, fears, triumphs, excuses, and inimitable personalities with me. My clients have helped me acquire a wellspring of experience as I assumed the roles of agent and advocate, sympathizer and strategist, therapist and theologian.

As a consultant and public speaker I motivate my clients to become more proactive. I often suggest they look for role models to serve as beacons of light. My upcoming book and the profiles of creative individuals provide inspiration for increasing personal and professional power and possibilities.

From childhood my fascination with psychology, philosophy and metaphysics and such diverse wisdom from the likes of Lao-tzu to Helen Keller has led me to the belief that we create our destiny. My personal life experiences and my consulting practice have revealed that we are each a reflection of what we think and how we visualize ourselves. Emerson captured it very succinctly: "The ancestor of every action is a thought." He also said, "If I have lost confidence in myself I have the universe against me." I'm sure he would agree that whatever image we choose to see when we face the mirror -- martyr, goddess, victim, hero, failure or success -- becomes our reality. In every moment we are like a blank canvas or slab of clay ready to emerge from our imagination and state of consciousness. We are a work in progress always able to initiate the process of transforming ourselves at will.

"Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." -- Goethe

Self-responsibility, clarity and conviction are vital to personal and professional success. Goethe said: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too… Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

Chris Ramsey, an artist from Australia, can't recall a time in her life when she didn't paint. But it took several years before she mustered the courage to exhibit her work and she would introduce herself as a housewife and add, with hesitation, "and I paint." She struggled until she had the confidence to declare with certainty: "I'm an artist." Chris said, "Once I owned my dream I began to live it." She then went on to win several competitions and awards. She created a visual image of herself and proceeded to fulfill that prophesy. "I'm now an emerging artist and well on my way to touching the stars I thought were only for other people and never meant for me."

When it comes to overcoming physical challenges or turning tragedies into triumph mental work must precede physical exercise. During his career Chuck Close, one of the world's most respected artists, was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness, which caused him to become quadriplegic. In a wheel chair with a brush strapped to his wrist he paints his magnificent, large paintings. In Chronicles of Courage by Jean Kennedy Smith and George Plimpton, he states: "One thing that was clear to me early on was how important it was to have something to do… I love making art… It's largely how I see myself. I'm an artist, therefore I have to make art."

New York painter Joanne Turney recalls a turning point in her life. "When the surgeon told me 'It's Cancer' I was in a state of shock; my first question was "Why me?" Then a few days later I asked God, "What should I do?" The answer was, "Paint it out." The result was thirteen paintings depicting the emotional stages of my experience that ultimately led to my recovery." Her faith and desire to see herself as cured and not a victim propelled her to take action.

Sometimes it takes as much courage to walk away from complacency. Karl Saliter, a sculptor from Connecticut, works in stone and steel. Last summer his pieces were selling consistently in the $7,000 range. That would have satisfied most artists, however, Karl had other ambitions. "Though market sense indicated that more of the same was in order, I've spent the last year putting everything into this one, 15-ton monumental work."

Saliter said he was inspired by Salinger's words: "A real artist can survive anything, even, I think, praise." The artist said: "Breaking through what was working well to create something that truly stretched me has proved well worth it. This summer, the piece is 70% completed, and loans and grants are allowing me to complete the work. Breaking through the financial fear allowed me to create powerfully."

Canadian artist Laura Hollic also had to take a risk to begin the process of personal and professional metamorphosis. Her story begins this way: "While painting one day, I turned on the radio and heard a man talking. His voice captivated me and I was determined to meet him." Laura went to CFMU, 93.3 FM and offered her services as a volunteer. She said, "This entire situation was completely out of character for someone very quiet and shy like me."

After Laura had been numbering and logging CD cases as a volunteer for about a month she was asked to fill in as a host of the arts show. "I was terrified! But, I decided to go beyond my comfort zone and give it a try. … The sweat was dripping out of my armpits, as the technical assistant pointed at me, with the signal of "You're on live." At that moment a switch turned on inside Laura and changed her forever. She now hosts her own radio show, 'The Artist's Lifestyle', which she developed into her own vision. She also developed her own weekly arts column in View Magazine. "My own personal art has also prospered," the artist says.

Two years ago Jami Taback, a New York artist, realized her approach to life - to business, education, family, children and husband - was overly organized and planned. "The spontaneity was gone. From that moment on I decided to let the wind carry me - to let life happen to me. It was an epiphany because all sorts of opportunities began to fall into my lap."

When Jami recently moved into a new apartment building she met Eddie, a two time Golden Glove Champion. "In a short elevator ride he told me he worked with young boys from disadvantaged homes by teaching them how to Box, 'To keep them off the streets, show them discipline and purpose.' I could not stop thinking of Eddie and those boys, and how I could help them discover their inner artists. That same day the answer arrived in the mail - an application from the Queens Council on the Arts offering to fund artists who are giving back to the community, so I applied..." In exchange for creating a series of paintings of the boys while they are boxing she will introduce them to the world of art in her studio. Her mixed media work "Tug of War #3" is shown here.

Jami's story teaches us to remain open-minded and expect the unlimited potential in all experiences. Jami said her motto is based on Lao-tzu's quote: "The wise man looks into space, and does not regard the small as too little, nor the great as too big; for he knows that there is no limit to dimensions."

Outside the white box was Wrong Gallery, created by the artist Maurizio Cattelan and the independent curators Ali Subotnick and Massimiliano Gioni. Created on West 20th Street in 2002 it was a one-foot-deep doorway behind a glass door identical to the one leading into the adjacent Andrew Kreps Gallery. It proved that it was possible both to mimick a gallery and function as one, giving numerous artists mini-debuts. Wrong went on to participate in the most recent Whitney Biennial.

Do you dare to step out of the proverbial box? If you are like most of us you were taught to color within the lines, avoid attracting attention and escape criticism and ridicule. When those rules govern our actions life is boring, anti-creative and doomed for inertia. They also prevent many creative individuals from receiving the honor and recognition they deserve.

Jodie Lynn is the exception. She stepped outside the box despite the criticism of her family and friends. As a result she landed the roles of an award-winning internationally syndicated family/health columnist and radio personality.

When Jodi pitched a parenting column to a newspaper they turned her down; the editorial staff thought no one would be interested. "So, I had to prove them wrong," she said. In one of the largest malls in America, during one of the busiest times of the year she dressed up like superwoman. When she got their attention she asked every single parent she could find what they thought of the idea of the column. "Every person I interviewed was very much in favor of it - except my friends and family. After presenting the editorial staff with my findings they asked me to sign a contract -- for a 90-day period only. The column, "Parent to Parent", was so popular the contract was redone in 30 days. One year later, a syndicate asked if they could syndicate the column! Today, it is available to 19 million readers in the United States and Canada." Jodie has also published one paperback and contributed to two others - one of which was featured on the Oprah show.

The advice is don't pay attention to the naysayers. We all encounter people who deny, refuse, oppose, or are skeptical or cynical about our hopes and dreams. Our mental picture of ourselves can override any outside negativity.

Andrea Reese, a New York performer, writer, and producer, said "no" to the naysayers and "yes" to retaining creative control. "I've been in the performing arts since I was a child and my most rewarding experiences have been those I created for myself. In college I wanted to produce and sing in an opera and was told it would be impossible and that even the faculty had not succeeded at such a huge venture. I did it, and even brought in a Metropolitan Opera conductor and an orchestra (free of charge)!"

Joanne Turney's work can be seen in our online gallery.

Jami Taback's work can be seen in our online gallery.

To learn more about Andrea Reese read this article.

Karl Saliter's work can be seen at www.karlsaliter.com.

Laura Hollick's work can be seen and live web of 'The Artist's Lifestyle' can be heard at www.soulartstudio.com

For information about Jodie Lynn's books and column see www.parenttoparent.com