Throw Out the Art-making Rules

I just finished reading "The Other Alcott", about artist May Alcott, the sister of famous writer Louisa. It was interesting to read about her struggle to become an artist, and about connections with other women artists of her time. One of the artists was Impressionist Mary Cassatt. Fictionalized conversations between women artists, based on historical letters and writings, show the challenges women artists faced in that time period. Abigail May Alcott Nieriker submitted her works to the traditional Paris Salon and was accepted. Mary Cassatt left the Paris Salon behind and threw her lot in with the Impressionists. Ah, choices! I will look for a good book on Mary Cassatt now. 

This crayon rubbing was done in  Bangor, Maine, 

from items found in walking one block.

I've always felt constrained to stay in a lane, either folk art or fine art. But as I get older it's clear that an artist can make many kinds of art and that rules don't serve the artist much at all. So I let myself explore "folk art" and make other art that has no guardrails whatsoever. Emphasis on exploration! One doesn't have to constrain the other. See?  No rules!