#augustforartists - Advice For New Artists - Number one piece of advice is always NEVER GIVE UP! Literally if it’s in your soul, burning passion to do something… DO IT! And never give up!! Literally keep going.
More advice for new artists don’t lock yourself into one skill unless you know for sure that you just want to do one thing.. experiment with other skills. Play with different ideas and mediums. You never know what else may spark your next break through. I’d also advise new artists is to distinguish if you have a hobby or if you want to run a business. This distinction will be tremendously helpful with your peace of mind and protecting your sacred creative space. There’s no wrong answer and you might change your mind over time. Another piece of advice I have is to TAKE THE TIME to really invest in your ideas. It is not very realistic to expect to blow up over night.. and if you do, it might be too much to handle. The process of learning and growing through time and experience is super important for your authentic success. #citrinetangerine
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So another #augustforartists prompt is asking for top tips or artists hacks. There are tips I have to offer but as far as cheat codes go.. don’t expect any short cuts! Perhaps that is tip number 1. Life is hard, no matter what route you choose. It’s the challenges that make us strong, give us priceless experience and teach us the most! Lean into the reality of hard work.
Another tip is to never give up! Persevere through all that is thrown your way. Impress yourself while doing it! If you keep going, success is inevitable, especially with a positive attitude and outlook on life. Which is yet another tip, stay optimistic. That positive mindset will lead you to more opportunities because you kept looking for more, even if you got rejected from something or someone. Don’t affirm failure, even though it’s part of the process. Fail, feel your feelings and pick yourself back up, KNOWING something else will come your way. ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON’T GIVE UP, KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, AND CONTINUE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES. - You can always create your own opportunities in life too.. we’ll save that for another post though!! #citrinetangerine Photography @amandasweet106 Flower Crown @bloomaway_seattle Glasses @polaroid and I don't mean a beverage! It's a blue and gray stone that often also features a spectrum of other colorful hues! This stone is known to stimulate and enhance our human minds! If you're looking to dive deep into yourself or meditate on something deeply, this stone will enhance your creativity, intuition, observation skills, and your power of analysis. That being said this stone is great for study, efficiency, organization, structure for research and any other avocation. This is stone of perseverance. Sodalite assists those who consult and work through oracles, numerology, tarot, and astrology. This energy is manifested through synthesis of thought. It's known to reveal or highlight patterns, symbols, paradox and contradiction. If you're intuitive, Sodalite assists you in connecting with and understanding the personalities of people around you. This stone brings to light your intuition and because of that you can trust more of those situations you, 'have a feeling' about. This energy brings on a similar boost into your confidence by relieving any thoughts of self judgement. This stone will enhance your self confidence. Perhaps you'll stop second guessing yourself as much or at all with the assistance of this stone. It can also be used to recall and identify wounds from your past so you can heal and grow past that pain. It can also help your ability to speak and connect with others, when no words can be said. Sodalite's energy helps you stay in the present moment without anxiety of the future or concerns from the past. It assists you in applying the knowledge and wisdom you've learned from all your life's experiences. That way you can most effectively handle any situation at any given time. It's known to alleviate pressure and worries. It also allows you to sink deeply into the subconscious or unconscious mind. It may also help you remember dreams. Sodalite Crystal readingThis is probably my most frequently asked question: 'Yeah but what is your favorite thing to do. You know, that you can't live without?' Every time I answer with the same thing. I love it all. I could not do one thing without the others. It's a lifestyle. I am honestly always looking for new ways to create. I can't stop exploring ways to express myself. Although I don't have one medium that I love the most, I can give you a bit of insight into how I got to where we are right now. There was not distinct time I remember 'becoming' an artist, I just always was one. From birth. It seems like there was no other outcome or path for me. I vividly remember making jewelry to sell at the park to family and friends when I was young. I'd spend other days imagining different businesses to share with anyone who would listen. Another vivid memory I have is of panning for rocks at the beach of our family's cottage on Higgins Lake. These are some of my earliest memories, before I can remember going to school. As I got older, drawing and writing took more of my time. Then when I was in middle school I was painting large canvases in the hallways, painting the theater sets, helping our art teacher paint murals, teaching kids in a small summer camp. An early model of a point and shoot camera eventually made it into my hands as well. Photography became a way to explore places and helped me relate to people in a new way. Eventually I'd take more advanced classes in High School, even traveling between two different schools to learn advanced fine art techniques as well as film photography. For many years it was my intention to become a widely known photographer. In college I kind of dropped all my other creative outlets like drawing and jewelry making. I took advantage of all the different studio spaces available to me in school while earning my BFA from University Of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was in college that I rediscovered my childhood love for jewelry design. It all came back to me in an introductory metals class. Then my attraction to gemstones and crystals reemerged after college while designing collections of jewelry. This was when I founded All Around Style which is now a retired brand. Citrine Tangerine is my latest venture. Even after going over this time line, it is apparent that I'm missing the fashion aspect of my creative passion too! I was always dressed differently or customizing my clothing and appearance. I'd also model and style up looks with my sisters and friends. We'd take photos of one another, passing the camera around snapping editorial pictures. Fashion is such a fun part of life! Later I taught myself how to screen print clothing. Collaborated with many small designers in Detroit after college nd even took a collaborative collection to NYFW. Painting and drawing was present through out this timeline in my exposure, involvement, and fascination with Graffiti and it's culture. It's always peaked my interest as an artist. The colorful, architecture of letters, the graphics, how it's practiced. I'd have died a very miserable person had I never scratched that itch. I met some of the most amazing people while learning how to do a hand style, design a one line throw-up, and exploring the cracks and crevices of different major American cities. The filling up of sketch books. The art parties. The markers, the nights out. It was all so amazing. I'd not trade the experience for anything. Working with kids and art also has had a gigantic influence on my works. I never knew I wanted to have kids of my own until I worked with young people. There are a few books published about these experiences and this is yet another creative medium I love to work in. Publications! Books, magazines, printed media. It's nearly impossible to summarize the ways my life has left an impression on my creative style and guided the exploration of Medium! Perhaps the next or another prompt in this social challenge will have us diving into this topic. Who knows! Stay tuned to find out more! Feel Free to join the #augustforartists social prompts! |
About the Author & Artist
Megan LaCroix also known as Citrine is the daughter of a Navy Veteran. She’s lived all over the US but has roots in Michigan where her family is from. Spending summers in Northern Michigan exploring nature inspired her to create art work starting with jewelry and photography. She’d spend hours looking for rocks and creating assorted beaded jewelry with her sisters. In 2014 She graduated from University of Michigan School of Art & Design with a BFA then moved to Detroit where she is currently living and working. She is a multi-media artist with ever expanding skills but is best known for her jewelry, screen printing, photography, and paintings. Detroit Graffiti has a significant influence on her painting and drawing style. She’s participated in ArtPrize 2015 & 2021 and currently has a studio in the Village Arts Factory of Canton, MI. Archives
April 2023
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