Kat & thoughts on art

I'll never forget the time I was hanging out with my friend Natalie and her older brother David.  (David is a musician, you can watch one of his videos here.)  We were talking after one of his shows.  He looked at me and asked, "so you photograph?".   I told him lately I wasn't finding the interest or the time to pursue it.  It has seemed more like a burden or an annoyance than an enjoyable hobby.  "Yeah, art is painful," he responded.  I was shocked when he told me writing music is usually painful for him.  He mentioned Betsy, his girlfriend who is a wedding photographer.   She often comes home from shoots exhausted, and over the years her camera bag has injured her back.  However, despite the exhausting, she can't wait to shoot her next wedding after she has finished.  

"I've met lots of people who try to learn guitar and then stop," he said, "I get it if you aren't enjoying it, but when people give up because it's hard...i feel like that isn't reason enough".  

"Everything that is creative or worth something is going to be hard," he said, "but if afterwards, when you are finished and beat up and burnt out, and you say, 'I can't wait to go do that again', then that alone is reason to continue".  

I've remembered this conversation so many times.  It's cool to be reminded that doing things we (think we) love is going to suck sometimes, and thats okay.  We can learn to push through, and realize that it's a part of the process.  Relationships, work, passions... everything is going to be hard at times, but difficulty isn't always enough reason to give up.   

How appropriate then to post my lil artist friend, Kat.  I love her!  She has taught me a whole lot.  I've learned how to rest and been given the confidence to keep going.  She's amazing; calm, loyal and hilarious.   We took these pictures of her amazing watercolors this summer at Lula Jane's. I am so thankful for her friendship.  

Kat's instagram