Heart of Artistry and Practicality

A type of Journal..welcome to my life. Will you tell me your thoughts my friends. Am I too lazy to be practical...thanks everyone for giving their advice, Much appreciated

Why do I have to choose between

The Heart of Artistry

To

The Heart of Practicality

?

Can I just choose both ways?

Maybe I can, yet I’m just not blessed with those gifts.

Author's Note

Well someone said that why are you always reading? Why not make used of your learning to earn money!

Yeah, I guess I'm really not into it. or not... I'm not sure about it anymore..
My heart is always seeking for creation to do new things of artworks (that's why i missed paintings so much)... but then people around me are questioning my artistic value (maybe i really don't have it). Sometimes I think that my work is such crap that it's not worth seeing. I'm thinking that…. Why not go and do practical things… find work that earns real money every day. Yes i did that, now I'm out of my own country and work as an assistant. I just earn just enough money to send cash back to support my parent.

Now back to that someone, he said make use of your experienced then you can earn extra cash. But then my heart is not into it anymore doing web development is a pain in the head or it’s just me i guess.. Technology in the internet keeps on changing and I'm already very far behind, I stop doing it 2 years ago so it’s quite hard to start over again...

Having a heart of practicality is good maybe because they like earning money or they do it because someone is expecting from them like their family(well I guess I’m too lazy for the things I don’t have the heart to work for ~ maybe this is just my defense mechanism being lazy, though I choose practically all the time without knowing).

Having a heart of artistry is good maybe because they like what they’re doing it brings fulfillment in his/her soul or for some talented one they love it because of the high payment fee I guess( well I’m not like that, I just have the heart but not the right amount of skill for the high fee).

It’s so good to hear you’re a talented artist(Am I?), but the questions remains in my mind(Am I, really?). Well I guess I’m just a copycat artist with no real talent… Sad But I’m not sure I am!

Reviews

[~]

In my opinion, Willyam, I think a fine balance of both artistry and practicality is needed in life. We NEED money to survive, this is just a fact. But, we NEED our art to thrive, this is also fact.
Here are my two cents, NEVER make a career off of what you love, once you start using it (art) for your sole source of income, it ceases to be something you do purely out of love, and becomes a job. That is not saying you can't sell your art, I am only implying that it should not be the only way you support yourself financially. Once you put a price tag on anything, it becomes work.
I always believe a profession should be something you enjoy doing and are good at...something that will make you money enough to survive....but it should never ever be what you truly love, or it will taint what you love, and art will cease to be art and become a dollar sign.
These are just my thoughts, as someone who has been in the art world.
So, are you lazy? No. You are an artist. There is nothing lazy about the painting process or the writing process or any other artistic endeavor you decide to do. Life isn't all about money. Life is about living. Keep doing what you love and that is worth its weight in gold. Be well, my friend.

[Pax]

i do love what you said..very much insightful... this is the best thing/advice i heard... that is why i keep this job...this job feeds me and my hubby...i enjoy my current job...my point in the little journal is doing another job that i dont really like doing out of practicality ...i kinda dont like it...in this job i can divide my time with my writings... maybe because programming takes so many solving like math...and numbers makes my head dizzy...so its kinda I'm done with that road...I just don't want to walk again on those road...and about art...i guess its just a hobby of mine...that expanded its boundaries...as you said If i make a career of it the pleasure of doing it will be gone..because like you said again..it becomes work..and work to me has a lot of baggage..like expectations, deadlines and etc...now looking for originality is out of the question now... I understand clearly now...

For me my artwork is a free tool for everyone to read and see... Their feedback is already enough fuel for me to strive and do better next time...

thank you so much my friend....you've given me so much...that i feel blessed with your wisdom...

[~]

I completely agree with everything you said as well, Willyam. The baggage that comes with work, I too would like to leave out of my passions. And yes, "a free tool"....that is exactly my sentiment.
It is always my pleasure to read and review you, my friend. My best of luck to you on your journey :)

[Shep]

I have learned over the years that gifts are not given nor are you born with them. A gift is earned, the old fashion way.by doing hard work, not giving up hope saying I can't do it. Instead you work at it and work somemore. That's how a gift is can be yours.

[Pax]

oh, that's a refreshing viewpoint... i never realized that... now that i think of it... its seem like our passion is not inborn now a days... its inspired somehow of the old artist of the past... but don't you think these old artist in the past already knew what they are supposed to do... or like you said its not inborn but its earned... now that i think about it deeply... i see that those artist in the past had no knowledge on what they are about to create at their younger years... so in time they discover their own passion right....

thank you so much my friend for sharing your thoughts about the matter...

[gabrielle]

Your question reminds me of 3 idiots. there was this line wherein the actor mentioned about turning one's passion into one's profession. wouldn't that be great...but the thing is that is the ideal. in reality, we are confronted with different aspect that would force us to chose practicality...we can only make the best of our choices kabayan.

[Pax]

you remember the lines very well kabayan, you have a very good memory... not like mine ;)... yes we can only make the best of our choices... make use of it nalng kasi wala nang magawa... Salamat kabayan!

[John]

The question is well put and reminds me of the dilemma expressed by W.B.Yeats between perfection of the life and of the work.

[Pax]

wow, that's a great honor to be compared to such a poet...I'm thankful mr. John... always with your keen observation...

[Renée]

I think "the library" is spot on !
Myself..I am gaining confidence in my work..but money from this work i do...I don't even let that dream taint my thoughts..I just enjoy being able to finally express myself...and if someone finds that it is worth reading...then it is a bit of cream to my day...
Comes down to choices Pax...I know many talented people in different areas of art...none I know are able to sustain themselves on their talent alone...there is a reason "starving artist" is true...take a lot of sacrifice & risk taking..

[Pax]

very true my friend...there is a reason behind a starving artist, i know that for a fact of reality... confidence is really an issue to me..which i lack, sometimes i just don't believe in myself...but i keep up to this negativity...for my friends are ever supportive(you included), so many thanks to you and to everyone...from the buttom well of my heart...

and yes, the Library is on the spot, she really is an insightful one as you are too, sad she's not around anymore...i hope she will come back...

[Renée]

I understand ..believe it or not confidence is a problem for me too...but being here has helped me grow also...

[Pax]

me too... we grow as we discover our weakness...
:) sometimes the sparks of our friends are just enough for us to strive for the better...
thank you for giving my light....

[Renée]

My Pleasure & thank you !

[Pax]

sorry typo...giving me light.. :)

[Katherine Enma Pineappl..]

Wow. I'm going through that crisis too right now. I can't imagine that somebody had actually gone and written it and now I'm delighted that you wrote this.

Thank you

This is a nice write and I see the problem. Can't I do what I love even though it is arts? Can't I do that while surviving through this money spinning world? I don't know either as it seems we are caught in between. Now that I'm just a year from graduating I'm also stuck in that crisis. I wish that like my classmates of the arts that I too can take a course to let my love for writing and drawing develop yet I really want to have my mother go home and rest yet I need money for that.

It's times like this that we wonder, can we not be like the lucky ones who are practical and artistic at the same time?

This is a really thought provoking piece and for the record you are a talented artist, have confidence in that.

Nice write and it's going straight to my library :)

[Pax]

we both have the same culture...like what we have talk below with mis geraldine...in our culture due to the long time crisis that seems to be never ending.. we people became more and more practical on things to choose... me having growing up in poverty I've learned to be practical to think twice or many times before buying or doing something right... its hard because i grew up never having to appreciate my art...for me before it was just a hobby of mine...until college that my art subject teacher told me that i have talent for it... it really does not occur to me that i have...i was just the copy cat.. copying anime... its started with an envy with my cousins... because they really draw really good than me... that was the start of my facination about the thing called art..

guess I'm just a late bloomer..
you in the other hand.. you write really good.. if your still in HS.. then choose wisely for a course that will benefit both your talent and practicality...or just choose wisely...kasi...ang pinas kasi di pa nakaka ahon... crisis parin...it will take a while.. your still young you can do anything you want...love every single of it...

[Katherine Enma Pineapple]

Thank you for the compliments kuya :) -sigh- gusto ko na rin po umahon ung Pilipinas dahil pwede niyo rin sabihin na late bloomer ako sa paraan na pag-iisip na pinoy :/ I was raised by more of an american based standard even though we have humble beginnings kaya minsan kapag sinasabi ko sa iba na magsikap tayo para sa Pinas hindi sila naniniwala kahit mahal ko naman ang bansa natin. Kaya ko lang magsulat ng maayos sa Ingles ngunit kapag sa tagalog, bulul walang maayos na gramatika so parang hindi ako nagugustuhan sa pagsulat ko hanggang ngayon. Salamat po sa advice kuya susundan ko po ;)

And my thing about art is that I started drawing when I was 6 much like writing. But I fell for drawing more. I too started as a copy cat, copying anime as I never had formal training in art too. I only went by by experimenting. I was surrounded by art and I feel the same too that my art isn't appreciated because why appreciate it when my family are geniuses at art and can never acknowledge my own. I saw art more of a tool to attract the attention of friends since I can't socialize very well.

[Pax]

an honest reply, parihas lang tayo sa tagalog...I'm not really that good...proper gammar in tagalog is much harder than enlish...kaya mas bulbul ako sayo..lol..

i havn't seen your art, when will you post one for us to view?
maybe your family is just too busy to noticed your art...

[Katherine Enma Pineapple]

I will in time :/ The scanner's down and I can post some of my new ones. I have in my other account: eneromayo at deviantart. lol grammar talaga noh, sa tagalog ang hirap din XD but that's often a subject of ridicule here :/

But I realize that its fine, other people sometimes appreciate it. They never really had time to accompany me in awarding ceremonies for some of my accomplishments in art though

[Pax]

just do your best in everything you'll do.. just unsderstand your parents..it hard to figure them out at times.. but just being open-minded helps us understand them...

[Katherine Enma Pineapple]

I'll do that :) I really would like to understand them

[Pax]

remember not all people are the same.. there is always a difference..that makes us unique in every other way..

[Katherine Enma Pineapple]

yeah I sometimes forget that even though I encounter a lot of people incredibly unique in different ways

[Jamal]

sometimes it ain't that easy, to go both ways

[Pax]

I agree, but we do it anyways because it's part of life's challenges on how to balance both.. thanks my friend.

[Brittany DeFranco]

You do have artist value, it shows in your poetry, whoever thinks that you should do something you don't wanna do is stupid because writers can write for venting, emotions bottling up, or just for plain fun. And never doubt yourself, you ARE a talented artist and writer

[Pax]

thank you..I'm really glad for your encouragement. I really appreciate that..

[Brittany DeFranco]

your welcome ^_^

[Coyote Poetry]

You are a blessed writer my Poet friends. Your words always with purpose and reason. Good to be many things in a life. I like the thoughts to ponder in the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Pax]

thanks my friend... its such a pleasure hearing that....I'm looking for purpose, what is best to choose..yet they're just a fine balance between the two..

[Geraldine]

I'm never really good at giving advises. So I really don't know what to say. :)) But for me I think I could relate the heart of artistry as for your PASSION, do what you love no matter what other people say, they're not you, so how can they ever understand how you feel when you do your 'own' things. While I could relate the heart of practicality to REALITY, oh reality? I hate it. What's worth to say about it? I'm out of words for it actually, I guess just go with the flow? o.0 Well, I think you could do both, it's just a matter of balancing it. ^^

[Pax]

thank you, yes a fine balance between the two.. heart of practicality seems to be our everyday lives back at home... seems to be a lot of people in our country are practical kaya sometimes we hate it...kasi nawawala na yung passion or the heart of doing it...diba...i guess that why i leave the country is because I'm just being practical... the situation in our country is getting harder...I hope someday when i get back it will...

[Geraldine]

awww, i agree with all that. :( gano ka na ba katagal jan? ako nga rin eh i'm thinking of going abroad kaso hindi nmn pa ko qualified. too bad.

[Pax]

depende eh...segoro mga 2013 pa...bandang December seogoro..nasayo naman yan eh, just make sure first if you wanted it....at saka ang dami kayang agency diyan..just choose wisely...

[Geraldine]

eh nurse kasi ako eh, kakagraduate ko lng last year eh hindi nmn ako pwede pa magabroad hangga't wala pa kong at least 2 years hospital working experience dito sa pinas. just too bad kasi hanggang ngayon hindi pa ko nakakahanap ng work dito. oh diba ..

[Pax]

that sucks..i can relate...ang hirap mag hanap dyan..last nga eh almost a year ako sa kakahanap ng trabaho...naka take ka na ng board?

[Geraldine]

yup, registered na ko, licensed na. work na lng tlga problem.

[Geraldine]

work na lng tlga ang problem para makapagexperience na ko.

[Pax]

ganun talaga segoro...ang dami mong competinsya..ang daming licensed nurse na segoro...yan segoro isa sa bad day reason mo noh! anyways..why not try something out of your boundaries.. for the mean time..

[Geraldine]

oo no, flooded na tayo dito ng mga nurses. :)) yeah it definitely is. :P hha wala rin nga kasi ako matipuhan eh.

[Pax]

can i ask you something... did you choose that course out of practicality or the heart(because you like it)? kasi yung sa akin...I've taken the course out of practicality...

[Pax]

not that i liked it...i just go on with the flow of things...

[Geraldine]

I took the course because my mom said so and yes it was because of practicality purposes. you know nmn, nung college ako, boom na boom ang mga nurses but in time na graduate na ako at licensed na uber down nmn. how ironic, right? >.

[Pax]

yup, i know...guess were both being practical..at that time...very ironic...natural na segoro na tayong mga pinoy practical kasi gusto nating yung buhay natin in the future will be good..panahon kasi ng tag hirap ngayon dyan sa pinas...as if naging ma unlad siya...parang di naman nag bago each year...pahirap pa rin ng pahirap...

[Geraldine]

ewan ko rin nga eh, pero ganun eh wala na tlayo magagawa kundi to strive more.. :)) i guess bless naman tayong mga pinoy sa pagiging matyaga eh..

[Pax]

:) well said...very optimistic karin pala....ano nga yung perfect english word sa matyaga?

[Geraldine]

kelangan eh, lalo lang akong magiging down kung puro negatives pa iisipin ko diba.. :D haha napaisip ako jan sa word na yan ahhh.. patient, persistent? haha ano nga ba?

[Pax]

hahaha...naki consult na nga ako kay google translate eh..lol...guess persevering/perseverance...and guessing is part of our nature na were very optimistic pinoy...

[Geraldine]

haha bespren talaga si google eh no.. :D oo naman syempre. pinoy pa.

[Pax]

hahaha...i can relate...google what can i do without you...lol

[Geraldine]

haha korek. :))

[Pax]

it was nice to talk you...thanks..

[Tate Morgan]

I say one can never learn too much .And that fire should always be fed.A great theme here in this work .practicality is essential to survival for most.But I imagine more than one dreamer was drug into adult hood kicking and screamimg

[Pax]

a very wise words from you mr. Tate, Thank you.