What It Means to Be an Artist-Warrior & Find Your Power
I believe that the best artists are Artist Warriors.
An Artist-Warrior, as defined by Crista Cloutier, founder of The Working Artist, is an artist who approaches their craft with courage and unwavering commitment. These individuals are considered "warriors of the spirit" who use their creative tools like brushes and cameras as their "arms" to overcome challenges such as rejection, financial constraints, and time limitations. They earn their title through continuous work, learning, and growth, embodying resilience on their artistic "Hero's Journey" to create meaning and beauty.
But instead of taking up arms, we take up brushes and cameras and clay.
Artists are warriors of the spirit.
Like any warrior, artists must be tested, must be prepared. You must prove your courage and your commitment.
Haven’t you seen this is your own life?
As an Artist-Warrior, you must find your power, which is your craft and your voice, and you must sharpen its blades in preparation for battle.
It’s not easy.
No, the most difficult crown to wear is that of Artist-Warrior.
Because you must earn it.
You earn it through working and learning and growing. You earn your power through countless rejections, through overcoming obstacles such as time, money, and support.
As an Artist-Warrior, you break through all barriers to the reality you wish to create.
You are a maker.
You make art. You make meaning. You make beauty. Like alchemists, you transform base materials into gold.
As an Artist-Warrior, you already have this power. Like Dorothy’s red shoes, you simply must believe.
For artists are on the Hero’s Journey.
And heroes, as everyone knows, slay those dragons that threaten to harm us. To an Artist-Warrior those dragons are rejection, money, and time.
On the Hero’s Journey, the Artist-Warrior will fall down sometimes.
Hell, we fall down all the time!
But we always, always get back up.
For that is what it is to be an Artist-Warrior.
So learn to own your power and let it flow. Use that power that is your creativity to carry you through this journey. Nurture your spirit.
Engage with an inner life beyond gadgets and obligations and all those things that try to define you as something different than who you truly are.
Have a significant relationship with your work.
Have meaningful conversations with your Self.
Choose carefully those opinions you let in.
Believe in magic and alchemy and beauty.
Trust your intuition.
Try, and risk.
And say to fear, “You shall never stop me for I am on the Hero’s Journey.”
With your courage and your integrity and your work, you will light the way for others who follow.
You are an Artist Warrior.
Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)