Back to the drawing board of self-analysis...

Well, before I could even begin to think of writing an Artist's Statement and a Bio, I needed to know what my strenghts were. What am I good at? What are my strenghts? I also needed to know what my weakness were. Can even begin to imagine my surprise when the first thing I listed was not having neither an "Artist statement" let alone an "Artist Bio"? Why the hell would someones weaknesses matter? Well, for me it was another starting point. I knew I had to know them, acknowledge them, and begin to work to overcome them. They were just as important, if not more important, than knowing what opportunities awaited. Why? Because without them I was a like a fish out of water. I had nothing to use to my advantage. I had nothing to offer services to anyone. I had nothing to offer someone else and I need someone else to help me get to where I desire to be. That realization also made me realize I needed a niche! Something that sets me apart from everyone else, yet didn't pigeonhole into a single category.

For me, I believe my experiences in art will assist me greatly with that one. Why? Well, I can scrapboook! I know the components that make up a great layout. I know what needs to go into the design process. Through rubberstamping I've gained knowledge that is additional power! I know the art supplies, what they are capable of achieving and what they are not. I know what a great design is and what makes it great and what doesn't. Through my experience with being self-taught, I know all to well the value of learning, of doing, of creating, and of perserving throught it all by trial and error, even to areas such as creating handmade books and bindings that I never even knew I had a passion for!.

Examining my strengths and weaknesses further also assisted in helping some of the threats that could and world possibly inhibit me further in my artistic journey. There were also some good points such as being self-taught vs. being educated in a specific area that I am able to use in both my artist statement and in my bio! This is definately become a journey of self-discovery, what does little ole' me know about such things? Well, currently, I know a lot! Why, because I realized my weaknesses in not knowing, and researched and learned to know! Turning an weakness into yet another strength to get me to where it is that I desire to be! {God, I love that!}