Noelle Reynolds Photography » Utah Wedding and Portrait Photographer, Noelle Reynolds serving: Utah County, Salt Lake, Park City, Provo, Cedar City, St. George, Southern UT

I’m in a book binding class and it is freaking awesome!  Not only is learning to book bind the most amazing thing happening but my teacher is also the raddest human being alive.  Our first project we cut the pages out of an old book then we put new, blank pages in and now it’s our journal.  She has given us a journal assignment this week and told us to write five pages on what we want from Art.  And what we want to give back to art.   She mentioned that a lot of times we don’t even know what we want from art.  We could’ve written about something we wanted right now and/or in the future.  Then she went on to explain that we should always give back in some way.  We can’t just take.  So in more words or less, this is my journal entry.

Dear Art,

We need to talk.  There are a few things I need from you and a few things I want to give you in return.

First and foremost I want my voice.

I have this constant urge and need to create.  I need you to help me find my style.  No matter what medium I use I want that sense of who I am come to life.  I want my work to flow and compliment each other. I want people to be able to see my work and know it was created by me, not because it has my name attached to it but because it’s my look, my voice, my style.

Me.

I know this process can take years.  I just ask that I get there sooner rather than later.  That is if I had my choice.  In return I’ll keep you reverent. I  will never take for granted the things you have given me.  I will keep you close to me and my heart.  You will become more apart of me than I could ever ask for.  You will be irresistible. You will be my addiction. And the only way I can ease my craving is to create you.  You will bring more joy to me than you do know, if ever that were possible.  I will make you my fourth child.  Then Kurt would have to love and appreciate you more.

The next thing I ask is plain and simple.

Make me money.

I can’t even describe the happiness I would feel if I was able to create you exactly how I wanted and be able to make a living from it.  To say we’re, “getting by” on what I make right now is an extreme understatement. The life as a starving artist is not in my cards.  I need to be able to provide or my family.  And not only provide but to not want.  I want to be able to take awesome family vacations, put my kids in sports or whatever activites they want.  Through you I want to be able to give my family insurance and assurance.  I LOVE being the bread winner and I crave that responsibility but it’s only possible if you’re profitable.

I want to be able to charge accordingly.  I’m over giving people deals and not making what I’m worth.  I hate that I’m making minimum wage, if even that.

I know the only way for this to happen is to establish my voice, something that is different and original.  Then have it be desirable to the people it speaks to.  Art, I love you.  I will continually, express you every way possible no matter what.  But I would love for you to be profitable.

I want to help you whether I make money now or later.  I want to educate people.  I want to teach people about who you are and what makes you possible.  I want people to know that you aren’t all about the latest trends.  That you can’t nor should you be copied.

You are personal and you speak to everyone differently.

I love the idea of teaching younger kids.  Start educating children while they’re young to appreciate you.  Help them learn to find their own paths creatively, in the hopes that they can come away with a better understanding of you and who they are as well.

I have one last thing to ask of you.  I had said I wanted you to be my fourth child but I really want you to be my solace.  My escape.  When my life is crazy and I need a break from reality  I want to be able to come to you.  I want to put my stress, worry, thoughts, passion into you and feel free from all the negative and feel rejuvenated for more positive.  When the world is in chaos I want you to be constant.

The last thing I can do for you is give you new life.  I’ll create things that are fresh, different, and fun.  People will see you in new light.  They’ll hit their heads and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  People from all different walks of life will stare.  We’ll cause a ruckus.  They’ll want more.

I want my children and husband to look at you and believe that all those times you took my attention away from them,  that it was worth it.  I want my kids to know more about me through you.

If you’re read this whole thing then congratulations.  You seriously deserve cookies or something.  But now I ask, what three things do you want from art and what three things are willing to give back?