What to Depict in Art: Images that Satisfy Inner Callings vs. What May Sell

Making money out of my creations was not my priority. What mattered to me was that creativity served as an outlet of my thoughts and emotions. However, as I have been seriously trying to emerge as an artist, the urge to create images that may appeal to people overburdens me. Images that will conjure up serenity rather than disturbance in the viewers’ heart may be what I should create. I have been working on images of children from different cultures. They will be sculpted with sacred animals. A lady, who saw my first finished piece (photo), said, “It is so beautiful I’m in tears.”

I had been telling myself this was the way for a success….until I saw The War on Democracy last night. My smothered desire to contribute something for the ongoing struggles against injustice ignited again. I could do it the best through my creations.

After I slept overnight with the reawakened desire, I pondered on it again this morning. I felt a little at ease, thinking that I might be already part of the changes I desire to see in this world. I have been practicing slow food, sustainable living, and community building. In other words, my day-to-day needs do not feed the greed of multinational companies. My contributions are insignificant, but I believe that only when the majority of ordinary people in the First World begin to make conscious changes in their daily lives, a dawn could seep into the world of inequality.

With regard to the above-mentioned project with the images of children, I will make sure that each indigenous child will be with dignity and that my respect for his/her culture will be reflected upon the image. 

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