The Hobbit's Journey

Sometimes, life doesn't always go the way you plan. The things you want don't always come your way, and the things you were never expecting do, and somehow they open your mind to possibilities you never imagined. The road can be uncertain, but at the same time--exciting. :D

You may be wondering what I'm talking about, but let me give you a run down on how my artistic career has been going so far.

Right after I graduated art school in 2019, with a diploma in Illustration Design with Animation, I was a little lost, but I felt this need to explore and really experience what was out there. Some people might find it risky or strange that I wasn't desperately seeking out full-time design work and locking down that "stable" job immediately. But while I was sometimes worried at where my life choices were leading me, I was still curious. Curious to know more, and curious to just "live." Living to me involved working but also feeling. I didn't want to put myself in a situation where I just became a shell of a person, not enjoying my work and not seeing all the different parts to life. The small, enjoyable moments; the delicious delights of food and fellowship; the range of emotions and perspectives. I couldn't get that if I immediately tried to position myself in one place. I also know I wouldn't have been able to meet the people I did, if I didn't work in the places I did.

As soon as graduation was over, I went to intern at a small marketing agency, but turns out it wasn't my cup of tea. While the experience disheartened me, it did make me realise one very important truth: I was never going to do something that would make me sell my soul. In other words, I wasn't going to trade my happiness and ability to enjoy life, just for a "stable job." I wasn't willing to sacrifice my creative spirit, because I knew that once my spirit died it would be very hard if not impossible to resuscitate. Don't get me wrong, it was very difficult to come to that understanding, and part of me thought I was being fool hardy. But something I could never get out of my head was the simple mantra: "hold to your artistic integrity." So that's what I chose to do.

Somewhat discouraged by this ordeal, but sure that I had done the right thing, I decided to take a break and do some part time work. So I started art teaching. But I could only get sessions on the weekends, so I decided to get a 2nd job for the weekdays. I became a server at a nice cafe and began to learn more about the ins and outs of the service industry. While trying and sometimes unpleasant, I probably had the most fun doing this work because I met some incredible people and actually shared a lot of laughs. I met people (customers, co-workers) that gave me new perspectives of life, and who gave me a sense of camaraderie that helped to heal my soul. :) And creativity was not lost in that job. I found small ways to slip it into my work, and would you believe it, people liked it! Art teaching was rocky, but it was here that I developed a small but growing interest in teaching kids. While the noisy classrooms were hectic and stressful, I found the best moments where I could shine, were the one-on-one moments when I could really share with my students the tips and steps of painting and drawing, and my heart felt fulfilled when I saw them apply what I taught them. But what made me most happy was when I got to chat with my students, ask them about themselves and hear some of their life story. :) I was warmed by the trust they showed me when sharing.

About 8 months passed and I felt the itch. The itch to expand my learning, and I knew it was time to learn more about design. So my work in F&B led me to apply and get an internship at another food company. This time round, I was again blessed with great colleagues and bosses who nurtured me and taught me more about the importance of good design. The best part, was they gave me REASONS for the design choices. It wasn't just "make it this way!", it was "this is why we make it this way," and I thrived in this kind of environment. I didn't just learn about design, but had the chance to dip my toes in marketing as well! My internship was extended, and by the end of it, my hope in working in the design world was restored. I had had a rocky start that had left me somewhat discouraged. But by the end of this internship, I felt more confident, and I don't think the people there realised how much they played a part in my healing process.

So, with that season ended it was time to move on to new things. I had always wanted to explore Art Therapy because I felt like it was a discipline that really spoke to my soul, because it's key aim was to help people heal. To help people through their struggles. I'd always been a fan of psychology and human behaviour, so to combine that with art was exciting to me! With a little research, I found a short course at Lasalle that I would start in July, and now I'm back to part time/freelancing work, while I figure out my next step in life. I also have possible job prospects, which are opening my mind to new possibilities. But I'm hopeful, looking forward to see what God has in-store for my life. Don't get me wrong, there've been a lot of ups and downs, cry-sesshes, and periods of doubt. But that's just part of living right? I kind of compare it to the Hobbit's Journey. Frodo didn't always know where he was going or what would happen at the very end. But he knew what he had to do, he knew he had a purpose, and he was willing to go beyond Hobbiton to find out what lay beyond.

Till next time, Take Care!

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