Took some notes during my studio time today and post-studio time as well. These are the results:

I’m finding it interesting how I’m coming back to a lot of my first loves in my creative work.

Color Pencils
Acrylic paints
Playing card concepts
Illustrations of things I’m writing and publishing…

Just all of my childhood whimsical dreams being realizes or turned into full-fledged passions I’m running after. [Editor’s Note: Have I always been this dramatic? Continuing.]

Parts of myself shut down that I’m now accepting and embracing that make me, me.

Not trying to be something I’m not, just to make (what I think) would make someone else happy or what they think is successful.

Of course, sometimes there’s a reason we left our “first loves” in the first place.

I never want to be known as a person who preached or talked a life they themselves weren’t willing to walk. As an artist, for me, it means changing my paint and other material choices. The quick and easy decision today would have been to work with some of the toxic [P.S.A. not all acrylics are toxic, but a couple of my paints are. P.S.A. over.], but already owned acrylic paints I’ve had for quite a few years now. The thing is, I really want to move away from plastic in as many areas of life as possible. My career (serial-entrepreneurship) is, especially, no exception.

I’m a big believer in companies moving towards a more sustainable way of using and producing materials and products. It makes it harder for consumers to make good buying decisions if businesses aren’t selling good products for them to choose from in the first place.

So, if I claim to believe and stand by that, I have to put my money where my mouth is and watch what kinds of paints and products I’m selling to potential customers.

Taking steps like:

Using biodegradable packaging (wherever I can)
Using non-(or less) toxic paints and other creative materials (it’s easy to forget that that stuff is LITERALLY getting washed down our drains and into our water system)
And other smarter, more sustainable business practices from the get-go

I’m not shaming people who don’t, or who can’t afford to go that route at the moment. But for me, I want to point to finger less at other people and companies and start taking a hard look on my own choices where I can and adjust accordingly. I can say all that about others, but if I’m not willing to make the necessary changes or stepping up to the plate in whatever way I can in my own life, what’s the point of even speaking up in the first place?

I’ve been really thinking about that verse in the Bible recently that talks about not pointing out the flaws in others and taking a hard look at yourself, and taking it to heart.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” – Luke 6:41-42 (ESV)

Kind of a weird place to end a post, but it’s true. I still want to do a series on stewardship in every area of life in the future and this makes me want to do that even more so now.

I’m always hesitant to post posts like this for fear of offending people, but again, sticking to your convictions (and knowing when to grow out of them) is always I good thing, I think.

Etiquetas » Ethicalbusinesspractices

Studio Thoughts: First Loves...and Ethical Dealings