JAIMEE TODD
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Why I Make Art-Reason #3*

2/16/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
©Jaimee Todd 2014
Perhaps one of the reasons why I started making art goes back to when I was a little kid and drew because I didn't know how to write. Telling stories through drawings enabled to me escape. Back when I was a kid it allowed me to retreat into a world that was stimulating, unpredictable and fun. Sometimes, much to the annoyance of my mother, I preferred drawing to going outside and playing with the neighborhood kids or climbing trees.

As an adult, making art is not only a form of escapism, it's also therapy. It helps me deal. Most people would be surprised to know this but I am a constant worrier. It doesn't take much for my mind to jump to a worst case scenario waiting in the bushes of some unforeseen future if I let it. I have to remind myself constantly to  live presently and that there aren't things that I can't control. Making art forces me to be present and focus on the act of creation and it calming.

Anyone who knows friends me on Facebook is that I get pretty worked up about social issues, particularly when it comes to racial injustice. As I type this, it is the day after the Jordan Davis verdict and I am not happy about it. When I read news articles or read my Facebook feed, I'm reminded of the terrible things that human beings do to each other on a daily basis. I guess this is why I try to make art; I want to put something beautiful in the world. Somehow, creating beauty amid the chaos and the ugliness feels like an act of rebellion. In spite of the drudgery, I push back with its opposite.

And this is why making art is so important to me; it has helped me be a better person.

*The numbers I assign to these reasons are somewhat random but in this case, making art for sanity's sake is high on my list.
2 Comments
Elle
2/17/2014 12:15:41 am

Yes, I'm totally surprised that you're a worrier. :-) Totally disappointed about the Jordan Davis verdict. Let's see how they handle the next case where the person was killed in the movie theater...again another gun issue in Florida. "big sigh"
Thank you for making art...your imagery and colors brighten my day!

Reply
Jaimee Todd
2/17/2014 12:43:00 am

Yeah, I tend to worry but in getting better on learning not to sweat the small stuff because life is too short :-)

I'll address issues surrounding the verdict soon.

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  • Home
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