Discovering My True Passion: A Journey outside the comfort zone
"How did you know that being a muralist was your thing?"
It's a question I've been asked quite a few times recently, and reflecting on it now, as a content and fulfilled full-time artist, it's a question that's led me down memory lane.
My immediate response might be the typical "I've always loved drawing, for as long as I can remember." But it goes beyond that. As I look back, I'm proud to admit that I've tried my hand at countless other pursuits. And when I say "tried," I mean immersing myself completely in each of them, dedicating not just hours, but blood, sweat, and often tears to pushing my boundaries and embracing new challenges.
For those who know me well, they'd likely concur that I give my all to everything I pursue. It's a trait I've honed and come to admire about myself. Over the past decade, I came tantalizingly close to declaring something as "my thing" on several occasions. I dabbled in a diverse array of activities: motorbikes, photography, Latin dancing, rock climbing, hiking, yoga, aerials, volunteering for Sea Shepherd, and even teaching painting classes. At one point, I was on the verge of becoming an aerial yoga instructor but ended up choosing a corporate job instead. Then there were those endeavours I poured months into before admitting they weren't my true calling: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wakeboarding, skating, interior design, modelling... the list goes on. My parents never enrolled me in extracurricular activities, nor really spent time doing anything interesting with me as a child. I always thought that’s why I was drawing a lot as an isolated, immigrant kid. That’s also why, when I move out at barely 17 all I wanted to do was experience the world. Often, I could barely afford to explore these passions. I'd persuade friends or strangers to teach me, or I'd take on gruelling, low-paying jobs just to fund my quest for knowledge. I tend to get a bit obsessed with understanding how things work, diving headfirst into them for a considerable amount of time.
The Constant Wave of Art
Amidst all these diverse interests, art—specifically, painting—was the thread that consistently wove its way through my life. It was like a gentle, constant wave I couldn't resist. My safe place, a return to my roots, every time I picked up a paintbrush. Back then, I attributed it to my high school years, where I had a fair amount of art education, but I was never an outstanding artist. The label of "artist" never crossed my mind.
It was during the lockdowns of the COVID era that I started dedicating more time to my art. The canvases I worked on grew larger, and my desire to paint expanded. I found myself measuring the canvas against the wall behind it, for the first time ever I started paying attention to street art and wondering about the lives of the people creating it.
The Art of Movement and Expression
Only now do I realize that painting walls taps into my deep-seated desires. It merges two of the most profound needs I've always harboured: the need to move my body and the need to express myself through art.
So, when did I truly "know"? I can honestly say that it's only now, as I've transformed my passion into a full-time career, that I realize there's no job in the world I'd rather do. I'm content to be the same person, wholly and unapologetically, in every aspect of my life—there's no more splitting of identities between work, home, and doing what I love. What's certain is that I had to explore countless paths to arrive at this place of confidence and fulfilment.
If you have been wondering about murals.. My new free mural course for beginners might help deepen your curiosity and give you an insight into this wonderful creative (and physical) activity.
I hope my journey inspires you to venture beyond your comfort zone, embrace new experiences, and uncover that one passion that sets your soul on fire. Dare to be playful, dare to be bad at something new, and dare to be yourself.. for in those daring moments, you might just discover your true passion and see your life change!
