I will become a full-time artist; I will become a full-time artist; I will become a full-time artist… This was my mantra for the past year. It spun like a broken record in my mind, repeating itself all the time, and finaly I’m ready to hear the full song.
But first, let me tell you about the discovery…
Spiral down three years ago, I just bought my camera and started doing photography as a hobby. I shot everything, from my friends to landscapes, documentary photography to animals and nature. I loved capturing moments and enjoyed making discoveries through the lens.
Spiral down two years ago I decided to become a professional photographer. Creative portraits were taking over. I took photos of all my friends and relatives, but somewhere in the middle, I started feeling bored with what I was doing. I wasn’t reaching my full potential and If I wanted this to be my future, I needed to find my true voice. I knew just creating portraits or shooting weddings, wasn’t going to cut it. I didn’t really want to encounter any new people (for example at a wedding or event). I wanted to do it all by myself (a reason why I started taking self-portraits).
Spiral a year and a half ago, I took time to read about different types of photography and how to make a living off them. I knew it needed to be something very creative, something touching, something I can mostly do alone.
Spiral down one year ago, there it was. I found my voice. In my case, it was conceptual, surreal, fine-art, self-portrait photography. I even feel bad about labeling it, because for me it is so much more than any of those names. It is a specific tone of creation, in which I feel like I am putting my soul on the walls for everyone to see. And it feels wonderful.
Since the first day of discovery (the one that happened one year ago), I have created 21 images and two series (nine more images). My focus was to create as much as possible, to dig deep and with every new piece to either learn something new, push through a limiting belief or just have fun. Creating a body of work was the first stepping stone, from where I can make a hop to the next one.
The next one is still pretty clear. I hope to create album art and book covers. I would like to see my work in galleries and on people’s walls all around the world. Also, I wish to hold workshops and talk about what I’ve learned along the way. All of that, plus to be a part of a community where we share thoughts, inspirations, aspirations, art, advice, anything. I dream big and I have the courage to ask for all these things.
But the next one, the step after that is where the road becomes foggy and every move is so unclear. But, I try to imagine…
I don’t know exactly what lays ahead, or how different the future will look when I get there, but I just have to say that I am excited & thrilled.
I can’t wait!
