Today was a day I could have spent the whole day in my studio. Lots of deadlines, paintings that need to be painted and shipped to meet expectations and so much to do. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I finish one deadline in order to be faced with another. Where has the joy of just creating gone?
The weather is overcast and cold and you would think being inside and focused on creating would be the choice of the day. Instead, I found myself not wanting to paint, hanging back and thinking about art instead of doing art. The caution is when the days of not doing art become greater than the days of doing, but the point of this conversation is that sometimes you have to go with the flow of where you are despite all the expectations and deadlines staring you in the face.
My loyalties for this day are found in finding joy, and sometimes it means not showing up at the studio to paint. I was always taught to show up even when you do not feel like it, and I still advocate that philosophy as a robust work ethic helps you achieve your goals. The art of living as well as creating is just plain hard work and you have to show up to get it done. For those of us who are driven, days off from painting to bake cookies, watch a movie, and write blogs can be what the doctor prescribes. Those days are typically where new thought can come and new direction. So it seems, this day has put me back in touch with an avenue I want to pursue.
Introducing my world of friends and followers to my work is an important part of this blog. As I thought about what I wanted to accomplish in this blog though, I am weighted by the fact there is such a large realm of talented visual artists. Many do not have the recognition they deserve, others have accomplished much in their careers. I would like to introduce you to some of those artists--those who are reaching for high achievement in their artistic standards whether representational or abstract.
It should be a fun journey and my hope is that you will come along for the ride. In the meantime, I am attaching a painting that I struggled through, put on the shelf for awhile only to come back and finish. It is called for the "Pure Joy of It," 20 x 24.
The weather is overcast and cold and you would think being inside and focused on creating would be the choice of the day. Instead, I found myself not wanting to paint, hanging back and thinking about art instead of doing art. The caution is when the days of not doing art become greater than the days of doing, but the point of this conversation is that sometimes you have to go with the flow of where you are despite all the expectations and deadlines staring you in the face.
My loyalties for this day are found in finding joy, and sometimes it means not showing up at the studio to paint. I was always taught to show up even when you do not feel like it, and I still advocate that philosophy as a robust work ethic helps you achieve your goals. The art of living as well as creating is just plain hard work and you have to show up to get it done. For those of us who are driven, days off from painting to bake cookies, watch a movie, and write blogs can be what the doctor prescribes. Those days are typically where new thought can come and new direction. So it seems, this day has put me back in touch with an avenue I want to pursue.
Introducing my world of friends and followers to my work is an important part of this blog. As I thought about what I wanted to accomplish in this blog though, I am weighted by the fact there is such a large realm of talented visual artists. Many do not have the recognition they deserve, others have accomplished much in their careers. I would like to introduce you to some of those artists--those who are reaching for high achievement in their artistic standards whether representational or abstract.
It should be a fun journey and my hope is that you will come along for the ride. In the meantime, I am attaching a painting that I struggled through, put on the shelf for awhile only to come back and finish. It is called for the "Pure Joy of It," 20 x 24.
2 comments:
Welcome back to the conversation. I find writing a blog helps frequently in reacting to the world in which I live.
I posted your pic and link to your site on my MegLeslieCreative page today. It was just the image I was searching for. Thank you.
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