Janet, thatnks for this article. I identify deeply with both "halves", the artistic and the aikidoka.
(Shameless plug:
http://www.the-sanctum.com/Scriptorium/Arrantxa.html)
It was interesting to see your thoughts on the depth of a person's artistic urges; I'd not thought of them in precisely those terms before, but I found myself identifying completely with what you had to say.
Thanks!
Heather