Logic vs Intuition

First off, I need to thank the podcast Art Juice for sparking these thoughts. I listened to their episode, Colour Frustrations and Guideposts, twice and found it filled with profound moments that deeply resonated with me. It got me reflecting in a big way.

I've always been a highly intuitive person. This year, in 2024, I went to my first psychic (my daughter playfully called it "visiting the oracle"). It’s not typically something I do, but I like to keep an open mind. One thing the psychic said stood out: "Your angel is strong and clearly defined. You have a powerful North Star." I remember thinking, Alright, maybe she knows a thing or two.

But, if I'm being honest, I’ve always had a strong sense of what I wanted to do next, and more often than not, I went ahead and did just that. Now, at 49, making a major life shift isn't as easy as it once was. Still, despite the ups and downs, and any burns I've experienced in the art or music worlds, I’ve decided to go all in on becoming a full-time artist.

The hurdles? A lot of it stems from outdated beliefs—the "starving artist" stereotype and all the baggage people attach to pursuing art. The truth is, being an artist and surviving in the commercial space are two completely different worlds. And yes, Australia doesn’t do much to uplift its artistic community. It often takes more from artists than it gives in return. But we’re no longer bound by one country; we are global artists, and I believe we can find our path, no matter where we are.

When you think about it, logic—what we know from experience or what others have taught us—can often lack the spark of invention and forward-thinking. But intuition, that deep, unshakable feeling of knowing, gives us direction. It tells us what we need to do to live a contented life. I’ve never been able to ignore it. For me, it’s never been about chasing money or travelling, though those things could certainly expand my freedom to create. It's about something deeper. It’s more like, If I don’t do this, and one day it’s too late, I’ll never forgive myself. And that’s enough to keep me going.

I don’t want to hate myself for not trying.

Yes, I know I have artistic ability. However, if you look at my recent work with this new medium, you might not think so right away! But I’ve successfully worked with textiles, fashion styling, and interior design (I’ll share more about my rental transformation soon), and taken courses in shoe design, calligraphy, graphic design, ceramics, makeup, hairstyling, cutting, and colouring. I’m an all-rounder.

I’ve always felt that drawing and painting informed all the other visual art forms like piano does for an orchestra, the basis. So back to it I go, learning from scratch. Again.