Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Artistry: How do you rediscover your voice as an artist?

So not going to lie, it has been a really long time since I last wrote. With the addition of graduate school, the life of a teaching artist, and the life of an actor, writing has fallen to the curb.  My apologies to my fellow readers.  However, this distraction has allowed me to find my voice and my artistry in a way that I have never thought would be possible.

Being a professional actor is hard.  There is no way around that.  It takes a thick skin.  So many times, I often forgot why I loved acting in the first place, and this year has revitalized my voice as an artist.

What fuels your artistic voice?

Or simply put, where do you find your passion.  Passion is something that fuels our lives.  As people, I think it is important to be passionate about life, about your job, about your profession, and about your relationships.  Passion is what connects so many people on so many levels, and as an actor and a teacher, passion is what fuels my work. But sometimes the passion starts to fade.  I think as people overtime that passion can dissipate. I was left to wonder why this happens and how can we change this, especially as an artist.

As a person, what is your own passion? Some people are fueled by food...others music. ...others exercise.  What draws you to this certain thing and why do you keep coming back to it?

For myself, I am a storyteller.  I love the stories I tell as an actor, and especially the ones I get to tell on stage.  This year has reminded me that I am a storyteller, and that I have so many stories to continue to tell in so many unique and creative ways.  However, it was the students I work with and digging into my work as student that has helped me realize my love for storytelling.  Learning is never done, and life is always about learning from our own experiences.

As a re-experience my own passion once again, and re-examine my own artistic voice, I challenge you to make a choice to find what makes you passionate about our own world and rediscover something new.  Through your own rediscovery, your own passion will grow.

As an actor, it can be sometimes be difficult to remember why we do what we do.  The auditions, the rejection, the constant examination of what you are doing with your life.  However, try to remember that first moment of finding your passion as an artist and rediscover what that means! Sometimes that means taking a month or even a year to have that discovery!

As always live for today, laugh always, and love this moment!

Patty G. McGee