Ngaire, I liked your quotes and especially this one:
Quote:
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. . . if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Henry Thoreau 1841
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I don't know that it is in keeping with the theme of this thread but the above reminded me of an experience I had many years ago. Not wishing to brag and wanting to be sensitive to old high school friends at a class reunion I underplayed my job title at a major company and the fact that I was doing lot of travel in North America and Europe to satisfy design, color and marketing needs for our manufacturing operations outside the USA. Some in my Cleveland schoolmates had become professionals but I was well aware that a good many had not ventured far from the neighborhood. When conversation invariably led to the question of "what do you do?" I modestly stated that I was an "artist". Had I announced that I was president of IBM I could not have experienced a better response. The very fact that Jim Riley, the guy who liked art class more than anything else, was employed doing what he enjoyed most drew response that I had not anticipated. I realized then how big my decision to pursue an art career was and, at the same time, noted that many people never have this same experience and do whatever they do simply because "they have to".
Going to art school was an easy choice. I had no genuine enthusiasm for other areas of study or career objectives but found my specialty less restricting than I could have imagined and can honestly say that the special insights and skills that I developed as an artist allowed me to hold my own and make substantial contribution in corporations heavily staffed and operated by research, engineering and marketing groups. It also had something to do with the fact that a good part of our success depended on our ability to satisfy design and color needs in a changing marketplace.
When friends ask me to see the work of their youngster and discuss schooling and careers I can be frank and encouraging. I am not afraid to give them the brutal facts of life in regard to an art career but given evidence of skill and a strong desire to study art I can confidently say that any good effort will not be a waste. The skills and insights gained will carry with them adding a very special value to whatever new route they take.