If Your Heart Isnt In It

My art always comes directly from my heart. That may sound corny. But it is what it is. I have tried to draw things because someone asked me to. I have tried to draw things to prove that I could. I have tried to draw things to try something different. It never works. My art is only at its best when it is showing what I feel on the inside.
To have an idea is one thing. To have feelings inside you, and to want to show those feelings and express them through your art, that is another. I have always been a very intense, very emotional person. Growing up I had a hard time dealing with things, because my feelings would be so strong. On top of that, I was a shy child who had a hard time verbalizing things. As an adult I learned to use art to channel these emotions. I can resolve what is going on inside me with a brush or a pencil. I can show what's going on inside of me by what I produce on paper or canvas. This is an absolutely amazing, life-changing even, feeling.
Art is also a good distraction and an excellent way to relax. If I am not feeling well, or if I'm worried or anxious, I can disappear into my art to forget for awhile. I know many artists are the same way. I can't say how grateful I am to have this set of skills. What would we do if we didn't have the arts to nurture our souls? Thankfully, we'll never know.