Right

At school and college my art teachers told me to ‘loosen up’ to be ‘more free and expressive’. They never told me to relax into who I was.

I like order. I like neat. I like straight lines and planning and control. And that’s not just ok, it’s everything that makes my creativity mine. It took me years to unlearn those unhelpful lessons.

Now I know that I am perfect for the type of art I make. It’s in my nature and it comes easily. I don’t have to force myself to fit in, to fulfil someone else’s idea of what an artist is. I can be me, and what comes is honest. True.

Now I know that there is no ‘right’ way to be an artist.