Tiny Passions

So you've seen the website title, you've read about me, you've seen my art... but what does "Tiny Passions" mean?

The phrase "tiny passions" came to me by chance when I was trying to express the turmoil inside me when it came to what I wanted to do "when I grew up." I had been going to college for 5 years, pursuing a degree in art, but beyond that I was feeling very lost and conflicted on where I wanted to end up. Teaching had never appealed to me, and I really didn't feel up to task of being an "artist," as in, someone who makes art to show or sell in galleries. So, what else is there?

For as long as I can remember, being creative has been something that comes naturally to me, and I could always find a new outlet very quickly, every few weeks, to every few days, sometimes within a few hours, I would switch gears from one activity to another. I easily become obsessed with a new activity. There are a few things that have stuck pretty consistently, such as photography, drawing, and crocheting, but even just within those three arts are techniques and experiments to try and tangents to follow.

Honestly, going to college was the most awesome experience in regards to learning more art. Every few months I was given something new to try, and during those months I was OBSESSED with the subject. Every new medium I used in a class found its way into my cart at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Now my studio (aka, my bedroom) is full of materials that I have acquired while attending college, whether I bought it myself, was given it by my professor, or it somehow came home with me... (I don't know HOW that silverpoint pencil got in my backpack... and I'm totally planning to return the jar of graphite powder!)

So really, instead of college helping me find that one thing that I'm passionate about that I want to spend the rest of my life doing, it just added to the long list of things that I can't decide between. The epiphany came during a critique of my work before I graduated, (an earlier graduation than originally planned) and my professors asked me what I was going to do when I was done. I explained that I wanted to take the time to explore the many interests I had been putting off because of school, and that I had too many tiny passions that I wanted to pursue to commit to focusing on one subject for a BFA degree. I love playing in creative ways, and with so many things, like polymer clay, and crochet, and jewelry making, bookmaking, drawing and painting, analog and digital photography, and I want to explore new things that I haven't tried yet, like paper making. 

I didn't realize how - profound, I suppose is the word - that explanation was until all three of the professors in my critique had the same expression of "oh" on their faces. They, too, had many tiny passions alongside their passion for making art and teaching. 

We've all heard the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none, still better than a master of one." I can't claim to be "better" than a master of one art, but if I can find my purpose and joy by indulging my many interests, then that is my passion.