If I had to choose one thing that has held me back as an artist (and as a person, for that matter) it would have to be the idea of branding. Every book, every workshop, every conversation I’ve had about building an art business has all said the same thing. You must brand yourself. Find your niche market. Find that one thing that is “you” and do only that one thing. Streamline it. This is why that does not work for me.

First of all, when it comes to style, I am not “one thing.” I am many things in constant flux and flow. You may find me one day in business attire and pearls (tattoos covered) and the next in harem pants and a Nirvana T-shirt. I cannot even tell myself who I am, much less you. That’s because who I am inside as well as who I present to the world changes on a whim. It changes daily based on my mood. I am all of those people and none of them. Why would my art be any different?

I love abstract art. I love Realism…and Surrealism. Impressionism? Oh yeah. Love that. Especially when I get really crazy with modeling paste and textures and palette knives. But sometimes I want to flat paint without texture and water down my acrylics to be more like watercolor. I like pastels. I love bright colors. I l love landscapes and animals and people. All of creation is my muse. All of the great masters that walked before me live inside me somewhere and collectively move me to create. I am a little bit of everything I’ve ever learned.

My portfolio may not be a beautiful collection of lookalike things, but I’m finally okay with that. I’m not a marketing strategist. I’m an artist. I will continue to be true to what moves me to create, and the only constant I can offer is the fact that it will always be changing.