Henri Rousseau, Sleeping Gypsy 1897
Did you know Henri Rousseau was not liked by his contemporaries and scoffed at for being an amateur? He was indeed self-taught, a man who worked as a toll collector and quit his job at age 41 to pursue painting against the criticism of many. He was so determined, in fact worked incessantly towards the improvement of his skill and style. It was his childish ambition and direct approach that allowed him to be free with his imagination and created vivid, primitive, fresh and enchanting perspectives on his subjects. His work was considered more poetry than it was technically aesthetic.
As I sat and read about Rousseau yesterday, I was most struck by his passion and determination to continue against the biggest critics of his time. By not giving up, he now has become one of the cherished impressionist painters because of his style hailed, "painted poetry," by Jean Cocteau.
I would like to think I am like Rousseau, working every day with passion and determination to create fresh, new designs for my clients and be inspired to come up with work that is outside the norm not just for the furtherance of my client's business, but for the sake of my profession as an art, because deep inside, I am truly an artist.
How do others in your field inspire you? What makes you passionate about your work? Would you give up your career to follow a dream as Rosseau did?
Make an impression at work today!
Yours,
the Cat
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