The hardest word to pronounce: ARTIST

I have been engaged in art since I was a very young child.  In elementary school, I was one of the kids who "could draw".  Through high school my work was chosen for competitions, for school exhibits, and along with a few others, I was one of those "artsy" kids.  It was never considered something I would do when I grow up.  As a struggling single parent in Israel, I taught English in exchange for painting lessons from some wonderful artists.  I upholstered chairs with fabric I brought from South Africa, painted old tables in glorious colors, held soirees at home for local galleries in exchange for a painting.  Art was always there.

When I was able to devote all my time to art, years later, I would always consider myself a mother who liked art, a teacher who enjoyed drawing, a wife who experimented with a needle and fiber. Never an artist.  As a result, I did not want to hang my work on the walls of our homes, and if I did, they were always hung on walls that were almost hidden from view.  I could not, no way, say I was an artist.  

Only a few years ago, no more than 3 years ago, I was filling out a form that asked for occupation.  I wrote ARTIST.  Then, with great discomfort, when asked what I did, I managed to get the words out: I'm an ARTIST.  Can you believe it? It's still hard.  It is the hardest word to pronounce: ARTIST.

I wanted to show you what I did this week.  I hung my work on a wall in our home  in plain view!  When you walk into our home, you see the wall loud and clear.  There is my work, standing proud.  I am an artist.  I am an artist.