The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. So they say. But what does that expression really mean when you get right down to it?
Let’s get literal. Let’s talk about grass. Because, friends, the grass may be greener on the neighbor’s lawn but let me tell you it didn’t just get that way all by itself. Grass, it turns out, is a complicated thing. Our obsession with lawns has led to a multi-billion dollar industry all in pursuit of the deepest emerald lawn, free of weeds and patches of brown. No easy feat.
In my little corner of the world, there is no such thing as a native grass. That is to say, no matter what you seed your lawn with it is a transplant from someplace else and it will struggle to do well in our northeastern US environment. It will take careful planning and cultivation in order to survive, let alone thrive. Other parts of the US are too arid, too cold, too something for lawns to do well. All in all it’s an uphill battle for many.
Anyone who works as an independent artist may, from time to time, cast their glance around and start to feel like others’ careers are blooming without much effort. While they may be struggling to keep things green on their side of the fence, it might seem as though it’s lush lawns as far as the eye can see on the other.
The truth is, and anyone who has had a modicum of success will attest to this, that nothing ever comes easy. Only in the very rarest, lightning strike sort of circumstances does anyone step effortlessly into a thriving arts career.
Rather, those who seem to be succeeding are doing so because they have put in the work and the countless hours needed to create a web of connections. They have approached galleries, applied for grant after grant after grant, and learned the important art of not letting the word “no” stop them in their tracks.
No one is saying that any of this is easy, on the contrary. There is a lot of hard work that goes into creating a healthy, thriving career in the arts. And no one is saying that it is something that you need to accomplish in a vacuum, either.
If you are struggling to green up your artistic grass, why not enlist the help of experts at Praxis Center. Our mission is to help artists just like you find the support they need in order to cultivate a thriving career. Our full suite of courses is designed to help you build the toolkit you need so you can stop wondering why the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Join us and see what blossoms.