The Artist Escape: Refreshing, Renewal & Rejuvenation for the Creative Soul

By Veronique LaShell MacRae

The intent of The Artist Escape is to provide a bridge back to the source in which our creativity derives in order to continue to pursue the passion that lies deep within. It is vital to bring refreshing, renewal and rejuvenation to one's soul as an artist; for the soul is the wellspring of the art that springs forth. Therefore, each chapter of t

• Language: English
• Publisher: VMJ Publishing and Design
• Release date: Aug 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735553115

Veronique LaShell MacRae

Veronique LaShell MacRae is the Founder & Artistic Director of V. Lash Productions, CEO of VMJ Publishing & Design and Executive Director of The 1:10 Project. A SAG-AFTRA actress and scholar of the intersection of religion, culture and the performing arts, MacRae holds a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Duke University, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from North Carolina Central University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing & Doctor of Ministry in Arts & Theology. It is her mission to provide nurturing and spiritual development to the artist as a means of restoration and rejuvenation for creatives.

Book preview

1

Pay Close Attention to Your Dreams for they are letters from God

The complexities of an artist cannot be encompassed or captured in mere words or sentences.  The depth of creativity and imagination of the artist is a gift from the Creator (God, the Universe or whatever higher being (even the higher being within self) that you ascribe to in your life.  It is the ability to create that allows the artist to emerge into the image of God, for God created ex-nihilo (out of nothing) and in the act of creation by the artist, the artist is granted permission to participate in creation.  The artist becomes the hands, feet, voice and body of the Creator by continuing in their discipline.

It must be understood that while this devotional comes from the perspective of a performing artist, that the term artist is not limited to the typical definitions of visual or performance; for in all disciplines, there is a level of creativity and imagination required.  There is a vision that must be achieved whether it is by the chef that creates a plethora of culinary perfections to serve to their patrons to the sanitation worker that sees the roads of their city clean and well maintained by their service of trash removal and street sweeping. Even those in the corporate world in areas such as finance are artists of mathematics – creating portfolios of numeric equations and accounts that fulfill the passion for numbers that lies within; and it is the passion that lies within that fuels all artists. That passion comes from the dreams that lie deep within us.  Thus, we must pay close attention to our dreams.  Our dreams are the gateway to our purpose.  Our dreams are the desires that are embedded in our heart, planted by God waiting to be watered and to blossom into the beautiful purpose that we were created for by God.

By understanding that our purpose is rooted in our gifts, passions and desires, we grasp the necessity of always working in those areas so that our spirit does not wither away.  A flower needs water and light to grow.  Regardless of how beautiful a bouquet of flowers may be, the flowers soon die because they are cut off from the source of life.  The roots are gone. The ability to receive nourishment no longer exists.  This is the same for those of us that become disconnected from working in our passion because it is the root of our purpose.  Many have witnessed the lives of those who are financially wealthy and have an abundance of material items, but lose themselves, in some cases taking their own lives, because they are unfulfilled.  One can observe that it is not solely money and material acquisitions that give fulfillment and satisfaction to one’s life.  All the money in the world cannot help one to be