ETHEL

Ethel

"Ethel" - mixed media on canvas, 18" x 24".  Ready to hang (back has been pre-wired for hanging).  Available here and at Artfinder.

​I was recently chatting with an ultra-fabulous artist, Jill Lefkowitz, about the business of art, creative business philosophy and well, ok, the frustrations of being an artist in the world, too.  But during that free-style idea exchange, the topic of artistic freedom came up.  And it really struck me how FREE artists are to express themselves in the world - not only in their artistic endeavors, but in their personal style, their eccentricities and quirks, their ways of thinking.

Why?  Because we're artists.  People already expect us to be little oddball (often the stereotypes are true!) and maybe even hope to be inspired themselves by the free-wheeling creative life.  And yet, most of us don't GRAB THAT TRAIN TICKET AND RUN WILD.  Hmmmmmm.  But we could.​

Where I live now is overflowing with expressive individuals.  Truly, there are ZERO RULES OR EXPECTATIONS when it comes to personal style or quirks here in unfettered Portland.  Want a giant glowing medusa head covering the front of your house?  No problem.  A fence made out of old doors?  Ok, sure.  A bicycle tricked out to look (and sound) like Hello Kitty?  Go for it!  Blue purple pink green orange spiked long short shaved braided beaded hair?  Well of course.  It is only just now really beginning to sink in that this is what a non-judgmental society that values individual creative freedom really looks like.

And you, dear reader, creative yourself, are an ambassador of that freedom.  You might even have a LICENSE TO BE WEIRD. (if not, I hereby issue you that license!)  Maybe, just maybe, we can make a little splash in our own lives, being as brave in our personal expression as we are in our art.  And if we were, maybe there would be a little wave...which could gain momentum and grow into a total tidal wave of free style energy in the world.  Imagine that!  We could.  

My intrepid intern, Fiona, says it is time for another reader challenge.  Post a comment about something you'd like to do (even if you maybe can't or likely won't) to express your wild self in the world.  The winner will be selected at random, announced one week from today and receive an original piece of malarkey art in the mail.  Because you​ are my favorite wild thing.  Ready?  GO!