Being Called An Artist

I've never referred to myself as an artist; it just never felt right. I always considered myself creative, often indulging in excessive doodling and drawing from from comic books. However, I couldn't draw a picture from my imagination, and I believed that was the essence of being an artist. I was also put off by individuals who couldn’t shut up about themselves being artists and the associated drama.

After my time in the navy, I pursued graphic design in school because it offered employability. I thought it would be a creative outlet to satisfy my need for creativity. Along the way, while working as a designer, I delved into photography using early digital cameras as they were coming out. During school, I took intro to photography and photography for design classes, learning the process of developing b&w film and printing in a darkroom. I continued photography as a hobby until 2014 when I ventured into a new endeavor—jewelry making.

Recently, I've been encouraged to embrace the title of an artist. In truth, I've been operating as an artist for at least nine years, starting a decade ago when I cut out my first Indian head from a nickel and mounted it on a half-inch wide sterling band. The idea was simple; take my time and cut out an Indian head. The early attempts were rough, taking around 15 minutes each. However, I quickly refined the process, cutting them out in just a couple of minutes. I continue to create them as orders come in.

Throughout 2014, I built my brand on Instagram and Facebook to a point where, when I was fired from my last agency job, I could make it through jewelry making. This was the moment, in my mind, when I truly became an artist. I had explored a new form of creativity with jewelry making, and now I was supporting my family by doing something I had created. As I type this, I'm beginning to understand it more deeply.