This is a story about “Hope on The Horizon”. As an artist, sometimes you run into a creative mental block. This happened to your’s truly this past week as I was looking to title an image. Why do I call myself an artist? I used to think the same thing. Eventually realizing that my work caused people to feel something, I accepted the title of artist. Anyhow, I was really struggling, caught up in my own emotions about this photo. Something about this shot made me feel dark and stuck, even though there was light ahead.

I knew how I felt, I just could not define those feelings. Two words lost and dream remained in my mind. I was trapped in this contradiction of being lost even though there was a path heading to the light. I pondered for hours even overnight. Before to bedtime, I asked a few friends for help, to see what they thought. I asked for 1 or a couple of words, just what it made them feel.

Most of the suggestions went along the same line. They saw or felt clearly what I couldn’t even though staring right at it. Even though I didn’t wholly use any of there suggestions they all helped craft my final title, which I am finally at peace with. The answers I received were: cold, chasing the light, tranquility, stillness, into the light, enlightening, little spooky, profound energy, dreamy, redemption and more. It wasn’t quite what I was feeling, but the fact that it caused these feelings or thoughts gave me chills.

One word…

A suggestion came from my cousin Brad of Brad Blair Ceramics, an incredible artist and creative person in his own right that I found my answer. Brad saw a cross of sorts striking a feeling of religion, but then hope. Hope was it! Staring at me all along, as soon as I read those four letters everything made sense.

While being stuck in this dark emotion, with the word lost hanging around, I just had to see “The light”. What I could not grasp from the suggestions, most having to do with the glow in the background, was that it was the hope. I was stuck personally in the foreground, lost in my own work. By shifting my focus, I could see what everyone felt. It allowed me to combine all those feelings and to come up with a perfect title. I decided on “Hope on The Horizon”.

This photo was a learning experience for me in more ways than titling a photo during a mental block. It reminded me that no matter the situation in life that I my find myself in; there is always hope on the horizon. I know I sort of rambled on in this post but I thought it was important.  Friends and family are and can be incredibly helpful when you are stuck. Please don’t forget to visit me on Facebook and Instagram and don’t forget to like and follow for more content.