It has been awhile since I seriously practiced making art. I slowly settled into a long duration where I produced little or no art – of any kind. It can happen to any artist because of poor health, overworking in a “nine to five” non-art job, family obligations and other life circumstances. Yet, if we are lucky, then comes a day where the artist can no longer suppress the desire to create whether with paper, canvass, pencil, paint, clay, metal, and now computer/digital drawing pad.

A big problem lies in making the first effort after a long time without picking up a pencil, paintbrush or other instrument. Regardless of what type of medium an artist prefers those first attempts to create anything worthy of signing, nevermind showing to anyone, are frustrating and discouraging.

It is easy to wonder, “What happened?” and think, “I use to be quite good, great even.” As I make these first attempts to rekindle my art-making seem just that to me; like the first attempts of long ago when I first began to create artwork and dream of being a professional artist; professional meaning to be an artist who makes a living at making and selling art. At this time, I’d settle with being a successful “Sunday painter” who could turn out reasonably decent artwork worth allowing other people to view it or to be even worth framing.

“Time has stolen my talent!” I scream inside my head (Ok, even out-loud sometimes.) My ability to draw, paint, mold and put together anything artistically creative feels gone. Truthfully, I fear a little that I have even lost it–whatever “IT” is.  My creative ability does not come easy today; my skills are weak and my knowledge proves lacking.

So, my advice to any and all artists is to, “Watch it! Be careful! Taking to long of a break from creating art in any medium and style is dangerous to us artists” We can -  lose the ability to easily and quickly create art. With God’s grace, this will only be temporary. The steady pencil mark, the gentil or rigorous paint stroke and other techniques can be lost and the need to redevelop those perfect abilities needed to complete a successful creation worthy of both our’s and other’s admiration can take a while to regain.

It is more aggravating and discouraging the second time around. So, keep up with your art; create daily. I don’t believe that the desire to create art ever truly leaves us artists. However, our technical ability and knowledge can. This lose can result in depressing, negative thoughts which potentially could cause artists to stop creating for good.

What an awful feeling…. to desire to create something, to paint, to draw, to sculpt yet, never to physically do it is painful. An empty hallow area exist in an artist’s being when this happens. Don’t do this to yourselves, create regularly; express yourself and free any trapped ideals, dreams and emotions.