The moment I realized I had finished the daily veggie challenge and didn’t want to get back to it, I started to struggle with a daunting question.
What’s next?
I have been sculpting miniature food since 2007 and on a daily basis since 2009. The first years, my main goal was to get better and keep improving the realism of my sculptures.
In 2015, I started on a daily sculpting challenge and focused on sculpting a different fruit or vegetable per day, because my journey towards vegetarianism and veganism was so strong in my mind, it had to find a way out in my work.
That daily challenge resulted in a lot of positive things but also in the realization that my sculpting skills had greatly improved and that I did not want to go in the direction of so called art-ivism.
And, maybe more importantly, I realized I grew tired of sculpting miniature food.
Over the last weeks, I cried a lot, I sculpted even more and while I’m typing my artistic road isn’t clear in my mind.
But after a lot of talking, I came to the conclusion that it just doesn’t matter all that much.
It doesn’t matter not knowing what you are creating, or not knowing how to approach creation.
Fear of the unknown is completely ok, but you have to overstep it to progress.
The important thing in art, and I think life, is to keep going, even if the road is unsure or scary.
Also, and maybe crucial to me, is to not always overthink every step carefully.
Because you can not plan your life ahead, and you surely can not plan your art.
You have to let both flow and grab opportunities or challenges when you see some.
It is an eternal struggle between the wish to have everything under control and simply living or creating.
Once I accepted that, I could just dive into the unknown and for the last week, I’ve been producing tiny 10 cm squares of art.
It started with a simple wish, to recreate the abstract beauty of planets… somehow.
Unsurprisingly, my first studies were very much galaxy related, which I did not like. My small goal was to do something more abstract, and the second next where a lot more simpler and much better.
The last two ones took it a step further and finally I made one on a white background, just to see if I could do something just remotely abstract.
Now I’m headed toward micro-biology and I also started a beautiful caterpillar.
Yes, I’m all over the place, but I see no other option.
I can not sit and wait for a revelation, because nothing is going to come if I don’t go seek for it.
In the end, I hope by sharing my journey, it might help you out if you are stuck in a routine you do not enjoy anymore.
It is a long and scary process, but it is also fascinating and uplifting to see your own journey unfold.
xx
Stéphanie
25 thoughts on “Follow your Own Flow”
I love the caterpillar, such beautiful details!
Good luck with your journey, I’m sure you’ll make many beautiful things along the way 🙂
Very interesting. Your journey gives us fuel to think about our own.
Even though I know Im not alone in my struggles with art and direction and focus, its still hard to believe theres people out there as neurotic and indecisive as I am. I still think I’m way crazier and in my head than you are, but this helped me a lot and I thank you for that. My issue is focus and direction. I feel like I need to find something that is amazing and unique that I will be known for and I need it NOW. Lol. I know it doesn’t work like that, but I compare myself constantly to other artists and wonder why I just cant get it together enough to “be like they are”and at least have a semi successful etsy shop. But, I see it now…..
I was MUCH happier starting out….I was just excited to see there was so many people making little food! I would make whatever I felt, I wouldn’t over think, I would just DO. I saw a lot of peoples work, yours was among the first people I idolized, and I would say I don’t know how Ill ever be that good, but it was ok. It was my need to learn, not utter doubt like it is now.
I see that I need to just continue on….even if I’m nowhere now, and I don’t know where I want to be yet, I need to just keep going with it. Its a real simple concept, but it seriously helps and makes it more meaningful and true coming from an accomplished artist like you 🙂
I remember donuts and breads and your strawberry cane being the first things that stuck out in my mind when I thought of all these new awesome artists.
People don’t fully realize their impact on other peoples lives unless they tell them…..and its astounding how such things can help people you don’t even know. Geez, I wrote my own blog post lol! Youre great tho Steph, much love to you!!
Cool! Glad I could help!
Making art is easier when you stop thinking about it. So just do whatever you fancy and it will lead somewhere. Some results might suck, but that’s ok too 🙂
I actually love the planets on the dark background, Looking forward to see more of your work.
Good luck. I am currently living in the present and try to avoid thinking of the future 😉
Frankly, I think that’s the best way to go 🙂
I love to see the process of your search. Micro-biology totally fits you! I can’t wait to see what you’ll be doing.
And I can only agree on what you’ve shared in this post. Just keep going, while not thinking about the road you’re taking.
Yes! 😀 Will see what I sculpt tonight, whatever catches my mood 🙂
..reading your post a poem of Robert Frost came into my head..had to look it up because I don’t remember the phrase off by heart anyways “two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by..and that made all the difference”..I’m sure your journey will take you where you want.
hehe, that is a fun quote! That’s how I visit cities XD
The planets look amazing! And I am sure that the road will become clear for you.
Just keep going! And have faith in yourself.
Your sculpted univers, planets are amazing!
I am not surprised that you had enough of miniature food. You have been on that journey for some time and it is only natural that you got tired. Being tired of something means you are ready to do something else and only by doing lots of different things you can find out which new path is the right one for you. And as we all know, paths can have side tracks which can be interesting to check out, discover…
and also to abandon when you feel the path is not right!
So yes, lots of possibilities ahead 🙂
Hello 🙂 I have been following you on Instagram for a while now and have noticed the shift in your work – it is all beautiful, by the way! I have been experiencing exactly the same feelings that you described for nearly two years now, since the sudden death of my older brother in a car crash. I am 17, I was 15 when he died. I have really struggled to find meaning to my life when I know just how suddenly it can be snatched from you, particularly as not many of my friends really understood what I was going through… most of them will not lose a sibling or a parent for years to come, and hopefully it will not be a premature death like this one. I had a sort of existential crisis, and while all my friends were out partying and loving being young and alive, I was feeling guilty at my own existence, confused at why I got to live when my brother had to die. I’m much better than I was – the first year I cried almost every day and although I carried on my schoolwork and my artwork, I could not find that passion that I’d had for it before. I tried to keep it to myself – I felt no one needed me around depressing them all the time. I still have my bad days, but I’ve tried to take all that sadness and put it in my stride – to use it to create a happier future for myself, to live every moment and be thankful that for the present, I am well and healthy as are the people close to me. Of course, the fear of car journeys and of losing anyone else dear to me haunts me, but I realised I already spent so long dwelling on this and to spend the rest of my life doing so would ruin me. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that the only meaning I could find worthwhile was to make myself happy, and make others happy too. Making happiness seems like a pretty good way to give your life meaning 🙂 Perhaps your life and your art doesn’t have any other point to it than happiness, but at least that’s better than a life which has no other point to it than sadness. Of course sometimes we will all be sad and feel a loss of hope at our lives and at the rest of the world, but try not to let it get in the way of noticing all the wonderful, beautiful things you can find in everyday life too 🙂 I am now in my last year of school and recently applied to study Illustration at University. Drawing and creating brings me happiness and can bring happiness to others so that is what I have chosen to do! xxx
I couldn’t agree more with you. I’m very sorry to read about your brother, and I’m sure not many people can relate (I can’t for one) but I see the loss pushed you to grow a lot quicker and your text is incredibly mature for your age. I know people who struggle with the meaning of life and are double or three times your age. So if there’s something positive you earned the hard way it is the wisdom you just described.
Yes, making yourself and others happy is as good as a life goal as any other one. Probably even one of the best.
I wish you all the best in your studies and your wish to live from illustration.
lâcher prise…..
et accepter..
très intéressantes ces nouvelles créations (et très réussies )
merci! 🙂
Having a hard time deciding if those planets are now my favourites or not.. As a geek I love the galaxy related theme. And no matter what comes out of your hands, or what your inspiration is, is it always colourful and happy, and that is a good thing (maybe exclude the cemetery sculpture, but even that was fun somehow).
And seeing above post you are a cool role model and example to hold on to (I’m an admirer of your methods and work too!)
In any case, your talent and years long experience is shining through in all your work, and I’ll be following quite happily where it goes 🙂
Oh you are far too kind 🙂
thank you so much!
Love plantes and dark backround! Gorgeous!
Stéphanie, thank you so much for this post – it was exactly what I needed to hear today! I am EXTREMELY guilty of trying to control everything before the fact, rather than just trusting in the flow. When it comes down to it, there is no other option – art and life both require us to take the leap of faith and surrender to the flow…
haha, I’m guilty of that myself, it’s a constant reminder 🙂
And glad I could help 🙂
good luck with your kickstarter campaign as well!
Stéphanie, this post really grabbed me and resonated with me. I am diving head first into my own creative adventure with my writing and it is quite scary at times. Especially the fear of running out of creativity or ideas. This part of your post really struck me,
“The important thing in art, and I think life, is to keep going, even if the road is unsure or scary. Also, and maybe crucial to me, is to not always overthink every step carefully. Because you can not plan your life ahead, and you surely can not plan your art. You have to let both flow and grab opportunities or challenges when you see some.”
Beautiful! Thank you for the encouragement today!! <3
Very happy to read it helped! It always helps me to write about this, as it helps me to focus, so I’m always thrilled when I see it helps others 🙂
And all the best on your writing adventure!