Christine Henseler: Many students today believe that a career in art is not a viable option. What advice might you give to these students?

Photo by Alicia Goodwin at the Drift Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

Oh boy. My family and most notably my inspiring parents have been vital in supporting me to pursue the arts, and I recommend anyone interested in this field to build a similarly supportive foundation. Seek your own path without comparing your personal achievements or social media statistics to anyone else’s along the way. It’s only distraction. Consider that Leonardo Da Vinci would have been considered a failure most for his adult life if he had lived his career today.

Art is and will always be the light peeking through the cracks. And there will always be people trying to block it out. The artist must wrestle with naysayers on one hand and appreciators on the other, and must be strong enough to fight for his vision without being unduly influenced by either. This is the ongoing dichotomy of choosing the artist’s path. If it means enough to you, then in spite of it all, you, too, will find your own way.

To Read the Entire Interview, go here.