anyhow.
In a twisted version of Darwinian determinism, we tell
ourselves that real artists can survive the most hostile
environments and yet find their true calling like homing
pigeons. That’s hogwash. Many real artists bear children too
early or have too many, are too poor or too far removed
culturally or monetarily from artistic opportunity to become
the artists they really are. These artists, shadow artists
through no fault of their own, hear the distant piping of the
dream but are unable to make their way through the cultural
maze to find it.
For all shadow artists, life may be a discontented
experience, filled with a sense of missed purpose and
unfulfilled promise. They want to write. They want to paint.
They want to act, make music, dance ... but they are afraid
to take themselves seriously.
In order to move from the realm of shadows into the light
of creativity, shadow artists must learn to take themselves
seriously. With gentle, deliberate effort, they must nurture
their artist child. Creativity is play, but for shadow artists,
learning to allow themselves to play is hard work.
To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being
wrong.
JOSEPH CHILTON
PEARCE