Become a Practicing Artist

At heart, everyone's an artist. In practice, of course, this is not so. You may be surprised to learn that, despite your artistic endeavors, you are not an artist, not a practicing artist at any rate.

Art is loyalty to the spontaneity of your individuality. It's expressed through action. It may nod to conventions, but it doesn't bend to them. A practicing artist is one who structures life through the creativity of individual impulse and inclination. A homemaker who loves what he or she does is a practicing artist, so is a mechanic and a farmer if they structure their lives according to their natural feelings. Whereas, a writer or a painter may not be practicing artists even if they get paid for their work. There are plenty of professional "artists" whose inclinations lie in other areas but they're too scared to pursue those inclinations. They are engaging in creativity, to be sure, but it's not art.

You have your individuality for a reason. It's meant to guide you. A practicing artist knows this, and doesn't limit the areas in which this individuality is expressed. In illustration, you may love to stay up until the wee hours of the night and wake up late. You may have spent your entire adult life trying to rid yourself of this "bad habit." However, if you trust yourself, as a practicing artist, you'll structure your life to accommodate the fact that you love to stay up late and not try to deny your own nature. Believe it or not, you love to stay up late for a reason. A practicing artist understands that inclinations are a language meant to be spoken through action. The more one acquiesces to this living language, the greater the quality of expression.

Contrary to popular notions, if you don't repress them, your individual impulses will always breed moderation, kindness, and pleasure. They are a symbol of your individuality, and at the heart of art itself. Disregard them, and you put yourself at risk.

All people want three things: love, challenge, and freedom. Individuality constitutes the unique way in which you achieve these fundamentals. Art happens when you heed your individuality and express your true impulses and inclinations in the face of cultural norms which may or may not be supportive. A practicing artist, then, is attuned to the fine art of living whose means are limitless but whose source is constant. You are the art you produce, and your life is an extension of that art. In light of this fact, "Know thyself" was never a more important phrase.

S.C. Giles is a contributing author of The Artrepreneur E-Zine and newsletter.

The Artrepreneur offers articles helping artists focus on proven techniques to accomplish any goal. Read More: http://www.theartrepreneur.com

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Girl Hurt on Wisconsin Dells Free Fall Attraction - 89.7 WUWM - Milwaukee Public Radio

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHNr2OP5Eg_Zshp4F7ngJoEXuss9wamp;url=http://www.katu.com/news/national/99676804.htmlimg src=http://nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/uC7J4LYtNffylM/6.jpg alt= border=1 width=80 height=80 /br /font size=-2KATU/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHfcrU1SrB2f__VC8vtpLf29-Ho_wamp;url=http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid%3D6602bGirl Hurt on Wisconsin Dells Free Fall bAttraction/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6f89.7 WUWM - Milwaukee Public Radio/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1An amusement battraction/b at Wisconsin Dells has been closed after a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured. The girl was on the Terminal b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHuzrTObvK1sD6h2Qszf0KwZBxfbgamp;url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itehMV1gCDwqoNevhdI0f8odBXcwD9H9LJ2G012-year-old girl injured on Wis. #39;free fall#39; ride/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNEaYpUzhgZOm4iw7eiJIqsy7EnY_wamp;url=http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/article_87e19bb2-9c0c-11df-92f3-001cc4c002e0.html12-year-old girl #39;severely injured#39; on Wisconsin Dells thrill ride/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBeaver Dam Daily Citizen/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNEm2c_HzN3QoMfDKL0zai_uAKI-lQamp;url=http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-100730-bungee-accident,0,3466511.storyGirl hurt in bungee jump accident in Wisconsin Dells/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrFOX6Now.com Milwaukee/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dl3-DUcd4Bk_VmMVF37BxTuDYm2vMnobrball 337 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

State Recommendation: Dont Allow Safari Wild in Green Swamp - The Ledger

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNFPPJtjb-vr0Ccn8vEs3ayxsfux0gamp;url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20100730/NEWS/100739975/1338bState Recommendation: Don#39;t Allow Safari Wild in Green Swamp/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fThe Ledger/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1LAKELAND | A state hearing officer has recommended that Polk County#39;s development order allowing the Safari Wild animal battraction/b in the b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNGz1zBqiWn4ZRhJ5XRykirMSsmEGAamp;url=http://environment.blogs.theledger.com/11343/deny-safari-wild-judge-says/Deny Safari Wild, judge says/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Ledger (blog)/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHU76666TofgF3H6Zjex4EgIygo1Qamp;url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jul/30/judge-polk-violated-own-land-code-approving-safari/news-breaking/Judge: Polk violated own land code in approving Safari Wild/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTbo.com/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dHJTp740aCMBwIMQRYdStJZIOGuZMnobrball 5 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Fatal Attraction - Hindustan Times

Rail tourist attraction idea gets rolling - reddeeradvocate.com

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHsj4ajFpZJN9VCa5e3hYdvHbIPzwamp;url=http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Rail_tourist_attraction_idea_gets_rolling_99651169.htmlbRail tourist battraction/b idea gets rolling/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6freddeeradvocate.com/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1A proposed major tourist battraction/b focused on the railways and ground transportation is gathering some steam in Red b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dUdSjuwERR7O0TMnobrb/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Ethiopia hyenas: Not biting the hand that feeds them - Los Angeles Times

Fair Rides Still a Big Attraction - KFYR-TV

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNE3x8WWI6cS-s7oJ-z6BqukKai2cgamp;url=http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news%3D41920bFair Rides Still a Big bAttraction/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fKFYR-TV/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1Fairgoers say the fair just wouldn`t be a fair without the rides. Kids line up along the midway to get their turn or turns on rides meant to tingle the b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=d2hGQ4XWtWeJmPMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Milk Cup: Manchester United still star attraction - Belfast Telegraph

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNFC495jlpZgitP3Fi8OZj2-GJLGLwamp;url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/milk-cup-manchester-united-still-star-attraction-14893918.htmlbMilk Cup: Manchester United still star battraction/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fBelfast Telegraph/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1They may have left the main tournament earlier than expected, but Manchester United remain one of the biggest draws at this year#39;s Northern Ireland Milk Cup b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dUYaeKTSg_fMGfMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

* Disney to make film based on Haunted Mansion attraction - Reuters

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNG_fpc-rYYuYq_riUaemqxqFzO0agamp;url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/07/23/2010-07-23_guillermo_del_toro_signs_on_to_bring_disneys_haunted_mansion_to_the_big_screen__.htmlimg src=http://nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/YJEXtGL-oty3hM/6.jpg alt= border=1 width=80 height=80 /br /font size=-2New York Daily News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNH5HK3yru9DXTR2U3m8n0vw6vOIUwamp;url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN229477420100722b* Disney to make film based on Haunted Mansion battraction/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fReuters/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1N) said on Thursday it was developing a film based on its popular Haunted Mansion theme park battraction/b. Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will write and produce b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNFTu3-jCltX9GtzvM_9Fgevbtupjgamp;url=http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/USA/PacificStates/2010/07/23/14806641-wenn-story.htmlDisney#39;s haunted battraction/b to become a movie/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCANOE/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNGl3Pe-MpMPnXwkmErFy7TkJ42i9gamp;url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE1bj0xKyIrb42SDCC 2010: Guillermo Del Toro Directing Haunted Mansion 3D/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMovieWeb/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNERm7-ZLvpYJK8NDaChvN5cqY4vzAamp;url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/the-haunted-mansion-s-fractured-story-10587The Haunted Mansion#39;s Fractured Story/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrLatino Review/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNEW0MAUUoLf5CPruDroK8uIQgovRgamp;url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118022085?categoryId%3D4026%26cs%3D1nobrVariety/nobr/anbsp;-a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNF0udOFlYOrXe532hrKkMt7jAC9QAamp;url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2010/07/22/cci-del-toro-to-reimagine-disneys-haunted-mansion/nobrComic Book Resources/nobr/anbsp;-a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNHSg8fxErzeZQ6yH-KP9UcJcom9uAamp;url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_disney-to-make-film-on-haunted-mansion-attraction_1413440nobrDaily News Analysis/nobr/a/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dzVd3ERMZKUeAmMfCP1W7GUJGIcDMnobrball 685 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Looking into past was a big attraction - Worcester News

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNGXDbBrfww1gHYjWpgeT8B3rhf3ygamp;url=http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/8304787.Looking_into_past_was_a_big_attraction/bLooking into past was a big battraction/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fWorcester News/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1VISITORS of all ages became forensic scientists for a week to celebrate archaeology at the Commandery in Sidbury, Worcester. Marieke Van Straaten was just b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=d5FmjSbsv6cIVfMnobrb/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Shepherd of the Hills attraction built on history - Joplin Globe

table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tamp;fd=Ramp;usg=AFQjCNEO_x1hdjm8C_8moiV8J-75bhWT3Aamp;url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/lifestyles/x1446649324/Shepherd-of-the-Hills-attraction-built-on-historybShepherd of the Hills battraction/b built on history/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fJoplin Globe/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1The drama, in which Thurman has played several roles during his four decades at the battraction/b, has a long history, too. Thurman said the drama first played b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1amp;ned=usamp;ncl=dXVRulm7jg5XeNMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

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