what is the role of an artist?

Here we are, in the middle of this global pandemic, and I find myself so conflicted with what to share online. Why? Well, it took some digging, and I found a lot of gold down there that I wanted to share. So here are a few handwritten pages out of my journal, straight from my heart and soul to yours. Enjoy. XO, Lusterling.

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what is the role of an artist right now?

Should I have something bold and insightful to say? Should I be creating my most impactful work ever? Should this global pandemic lead me to produce a super-symbolic body of work?

Should I be giving up offerings and giveaways and discounts and going live on Instagram and Facebook to share what I have and know because “everyone is online right now” so “now’s my chance” to be seen and heard?

Should I be expanding my “business” or coming up with “relevant content” in order to keep with the times and maybe reach a broader audience?

So many questions.

I have realized that, in my life, “shoulds” are just indicators of old, left-over patterns of thinking that are no longer a part of the bigger, better life I have been creating.

“Shoulds” are limited beliefs and unaddressed obligations from my past that reach up to grab me and pull me back down when my soul is trying desperately to lift me higher, to expand my earth-presence.

“Shoulds” don’t get me anywhere but stuck.

So, what is the role of the “artist” right now, in the middle of this global crisis?

Well, friends, it’s the same as it ever was.

The role of the artist is to create the thing that is calling you, inspiring you, begging you to please bring it to life in this physical world.

The role of the artist is to translate your human experience, perspective, insights, and messages, into tangible and intangible creations, in ways that only you can, so that first your own individual craving and purpose is satisfied and alchemized, and then offered up to serve and relate to others.

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It is so interesting to me that so many of the questions that came up, all of the “shoulds,” don’t really revolve around the role of the artist and instead center on what we should be doing in the online world in relation to what others are saying and doing in the online world.

When did the two become crossed?

Because to me, the artist’s role is one of real life, human experience, and raw, honest creativity, being transformed by the highs of inspiration and elation and the lows of processing grief and trauma and heartache and separation in real-time, offline.

And do you know what?

For me, this looks like using all the energy I have to share the most fun possible with my kids because for the first time in my life, I am not obligated to a school schedule, daycare drop offs, work hours, or scrambling to make ends meet.

For me, it looks like deep, inner exploration, opening my crown to nature and listening to all She is trying to teach me in these moments, and being totally swept away by the seemingly-endless time I’ve been able to open the garage door and paint while my kids ride their bikes freely in front of our no-longer-busy apartment building.

For me, it’s getting really centered in who I am now and where the individual current of my life is dying to take me. It’s giving extra attention and loving playfulness to the most meaningful relationships in my life and filling this 2-inch thick journal with as many of the soul-bursting visions and messages I’ve received over the past few weeks in quarantine as my now-sore hand can handle.

This is life as an artist during a global pandemic, from my perspective.

It’s not knowing when I’ll have “work” or “income” again, and, frankly, not caring, because for this brief glimpse in history, I feel as though I’m living a dream.

It’s staying up until the small hours to finish a tie-dye project and bake chocolate chips using slowly browned butter from scratch with my brother and not feeling sorry for waking up at 10 am and having greasy 10-day old hair (which is better for my course curls anyway).

For me, it’s knowing that if there’s something I need to say, do, create, write, paint, finish, work on, share, post, or offer - online, offline, or both - that it will come to me in the moment, and I don’t have to feel obligated to do any of it at all.

It’s living my best life and enjoying each moment as it comes knowing that I may never see as freeing of days in my lifetime again, so I’m going to unapologetically make the absolute most of this crisis.

Because this is my human experience, and this is how I am choosing to live it, as an artist.

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So, what is your role as an artist right now?

I don’t know - you are the artist.

Make your own rules.

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