My Dreams are Still Alive • by Carmen Torbus

Art is new to me. I’ve always been creative, but my first memories of feeling like an artist are fairly recent. I discovered mixed-media art in early 2008, when by chance one day I picked up a copy of Artful Blogging magazine at the bookstore and I fell in love with the work of Bridgette Guerzon-Mills. Her encaustic work drew me in and I couldn’t wait to get home and visit her blog. From there, I began blog hopping and falling deeper in love with art and the artists themselves. I started an art journal with a spiral notebook and some cheap craft paints the next day, and started a blog too. I haven’t stopped creating, blogging, and connecting since. I’m so grateful to have found artful bloggers and artists who share their stories, art, and tips online.

I’m sure I’ve witnessed fellow artists who have been saved by art, but more than anything their stories save me and give me hope that I too might be able to accomplish my dreams. I’ve found that when artists share their stories and their vulnerabilities — their strength, struggles, vision, and their wildest dreams — it gives the rest of us hope, helps us relate, and empowers us to believe in ourselves.

A Full Circle
It’s been an amazing few years. I’ve come full circle in many ways and feel like I’m on the next upward spiral around that very circle. I’ve now been published in the very magazine that started it all for me, have taught online, and will be leading a retreat at The Purple Cottage called Art and Dreams Bound in May. I’m also working on my first book about artistic style that will be published next year. It’s truly been a whirlwind and I’m really looking forward to continuing to pursue my creative dreams.

Hope in my Dreams
I often turn to my journal when I’m struggling. My words fill pages and pages and eventually, some of those words or the emotions they evoked will make it into my art. I love to incorporate text into my artwork, often just a single word, usually something positive, like “hope,” “dream,” “seek,” or “inspire,” in either my own handwriting or in fonts I’m drawn to printed on unusual papers. And in much the same way as when I’m down, my more positive emotions end up in my art in the form of happy color and doodled flowers or words.

I feel that art has given me hope that my dreams are still alive. It has given me an avenue to connect with other dreamers and it has given me a platform to cheer for other creative entrepreneurs. Finding art when I had no idea what direction I really wanted my life to go did save me. I’m still ironing out the details of where art is going to take me, but I’m so along for the ride and look forward to being rescued by art over and over and over on my journey.

Learn more about Carmen Torbus at her Web site, carmentorbus.com.

Comments

[Debi]

"... art has given me hope that my dreams are still alive." :) Yes indeed. Very much alive! Thank you! And PS - you speak for me too, though I didn't know it until I read your words.

[Casie]

Carmen, you are an amazing artist... I am SOOO proud of you, and to call you my sister! <3

[Carmen Torbus]

Thank You Debi! ♥

And Casie!! I ♥ you!

[Kelly]

yay Carmen! I love that you have shared your story here!

[Jodi Ohl]

I would have never have guessed that you just found your artistic voice a couple years ago! You are so talented and inspiring, it's obvious that you're a natural :) Thank you for sharing your story and good luck in your upcoming retreat & book!!

[Carmen Torbus]

@Kelly - Thank you! I can't wait for all the awesomeness that Art & Dreams Bound holds!!! And finally meet you in person!

@Jodi - Thank you so much! You're the sweetest!

[linda]

Wow, great write up and I can relate soooo much. About how art saves us over and over again... that now we feel really great about the ride and gung-ho to move forward. Such a different perspective when we are empowered by art.

[dawn]

Carmen, your words strike a chord deep down for me. My story is similar, though I'm still very new and not as awesome as you :)

[Cindy Jones Lantier]

Carmen,I was touched by your words. I'm so proud of all that you've accomplished and excited for you about what lies ahead.

YOU GO GIRL!

[Carmen Torbus]

Linda, Dawn and Cindy! ♥♥♥ Thank you all so much for your support and for being able to relate to my story.

xo,
Carmen

[shona cole]

Carmen, love to hear dreams that are coming true. I look forward to your book next year! all the best
Shona Cole

[Carmen Torbus]

Thank you so much Shona!!!

[aimee]

it's so exciting to see you bloom in such a short, intense amount of time - shows that it was inside you all along! looking forward to seeing many more spectacular things from you, my dear!

[Carmen Torbus]

Aimee ♥ I appreciate your support and encouragement so, so much!

xo,
Carmen