It’s funny how the smallest things can have the biggest impact on your life. I’m having some trouble sleeping tonight which I’ll admit isn’t unusual for me. When that happens I’m always thankful to have the internet for mindless searching to get inspiration or anything that will help put me to sleep (romantic comedies). Often I’ll cruise through Banksy‘s art. His street art has had a huge impact on my life before I even knew who he was. After watching “Exit Through the Gift Shop” I was hooked and realized just how much of his art I’d actually seen and been inspired by. The piece above has gotten me through some tough times in my arduous journey to becoming an independent artist more than anything. I don’t doubt that his work will get me through many more hard times in the future as well. Nothing can inspire my creativity like browsing through his amazing street art. Some images are controversial, some bring a smile to my face but one thing they all have in common is that I’ll never get tired of looking at them.
I find Banksy himself very inspiring because it was never his intention to get famous or become rich from his art and yet he most definitely has. He did his own thing and it worked on a whole new level. Sneaking around to spread his message on walls while avoiding the watchful eyes of the police and anyone who can’t appreciate the value of good street art is quite an amazing thing for a guy who wants to remain anonymous to do. Obviously his anonymity is important in his line of work. I can’t imagine how thrilling putting up one of those giant stencils in the dead of night must be and I’m so happy that the internet has made his work immortalized for others to enjoy before they get washed away. If anything it’s taught me the importance of using my art as a release for myself when I’m emotional or inspired, instead of creating it for others. Banksy may be intending to spread an image or idea occasionally, but he knows full well that his work may not be seen if it gets busted early in the morning or while he’s in the middle of creating it, yet he does it anyways.
I also love his lack of regard for what people think (check out his image of two male cops making out, you KNOW some assholes got in a snit about that one) and intend to be more like that in the future. It’s so easy to listen to the negative and hurtful things that people say, or believe that their hurtful actions are directed at you but in reality everybody is living their own life and chances are they didn’t take two seconds to think about how whatever they did made you feel. Everybody is in their own selfish little bubble with their own selfish little thoughts and selfish little ways of life. I’m not saying that’s always a bad thing, sometimes being selfish can be a good thing in the long run. I find that when I take care of myself first I’m much more likely to start wanting to take care of those around me, am more receptive to other people’s feelings (whether or not I care is another story) and am just generally a more pleasant person to be around because I’m not wasting time thinking about how to please others and worrying that I’m not doing a good enough job. I cease to stress about how much money I should be making, what bills are due, what needs to be done at the office, what my plans are for the weekend, if I’m going to end up a crazy cat lady eating frozen dinners three times a day, etc. I have one life and the only person I need to answer to is myself. The more I let go of insecurities and embrace being an individual, the more I find that things in my life are starting to come together. It seems the people and opportunities I’ve always desired are becoming integrated in my life, but only since I’ve started thinking more about what I want out of life and not what others expect me to get out of it. I will never, ever let ANYONE cancel MY dreams, they’re only just starting to come true!! Selfish? Absolutely. Going to cause some controversy? Probably. But you bet your ass I’m going to go for it, because turning back isn’t really something I’m good at. Thanks, Banksy, YOU ROCK.
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