Thursday, August 2, 2012

Who Does She Think She Is?


My idea for this blog is that it shouldn’t just be about me and my art, but a celebration of woman, motherhood, art and creativity.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to combine these things. A lot of woman artists stop creating when they become mothers, or their creativity shifts to a more practical route. Now this makes a lot of sense. Once you are a mother, time isn’t always available. You need to learn to multitask your life between being a partner and mother, and juggling work and friends.  It is not always easy to find time for yourself. Ask any mother of little kids when was the last time she sat down to read a book and she will probably laugh.  When I first got divorced, there were many people who told me I should give up on my art and find a more practical job. "You should teach art in the school system" or my favorite - ‘you should do art in your free time (ha ha) and get a regular job’. I am very grateful and lucky for the fact that most of the people in my life didn’t say that and were very encouraging and supportive. I think that I am very lucky to do what I do. I get to be a full time mother and work at a job that I love! I have people coming to my studio to learn art and be creative. I get to inspire and be inspired daily. My studio is right there, ready and waiting for me to create daily. I feel I am a better mother when I give myself the chance to make art and express myself.

One of the big influences on me to stick with my art was the movie-"Who Does She Think She Is?" This is a documentary about women struggling to live creative lives and balance with motherhood and family. It talks about the guilt women feel when putting aside time for themselves to create. It deals with questions such as: how to create and not turn your back on family and community? How does this affect children and family? Why are women always caught between giving to others and developing their own skills? This movie empowered me and encouraged me to realize that I can live my WHOLE life.  I would love for my blog to inspire others.  I have received a lot of responses to my blog from women who told me how hard it is/was to keep creating when life got in the way. I would love for people to respond and comment here on your thoughts on this issue. Maybe we can start a conversation that will encourage others to live their WHOLE life. So when asked-"Who does she think she is?"  We can just smile and say “This is who I am!"

Please check out the website and be inspired. 

4 comments:

  1. Thank you Deena for restarting MY creative life. I am a wife, mother and grandmother that took too many years away from my art. YOU, dear Deena, are the one who gave me back my confidence in my ability to draw. I studied art in my life but NEVER have I had a better teacher. I look forward for our Monday classes. Thanks again. YOU are the BEST.
    With love,
    Orli

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  2. Developing the balance between our own careers and the needs of our families is tough to do and does not happen overnight. Women of my generation have been the caregivers for both children and our own aging parents, while still holding down jobs. Some of us have been fortunate enough to have spouses who help, but the bulk of the work for managing the care still falls to the women. Creativity tends to take a back seat to crushing fatigue and spouses who want to be the center of our worlds. I welcome a dialog about changing that lifestyle model.

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