Monday, October 15, 2012

Reality Check

Okay, confession time....Balancing family responsibilities and creating art is hard. Ever since we got back from vacation in August, I've been in a funk and I am having difficulty getting out of it. I don't talk about the tough times much because I don't want to be negative on this blog. In reality though we all go through rough patches and we all have to pull ourselves out. The thing that tends to get to me the most is making/finding time for art. I admit to pangs of envy sometimes while looking at other artists' blogs. I see the work they are creating and all I can think is "why can't I do this? Why can't I make ar as much as this person does?". Well, the time has come to pull myself out of "woe is me" thinking and get into "how can I do art?" thinking.

 

So, I've put on my analytical hat and I've tried to assess my situation and figure out what is holding me back.

I can't beat myself up over things I can't control. Things that come up in family life like my kids getting sick or my getting hit with a migraine are things that have to be dealt with. Art has to go on the back burner. Letting myself get frustrated is a waste of energy.

My kids want to color in my sketchbook. I admit I sometimes freak out about this but I really need to look at it differently. My sketchbook is not my final project, it's where I practice and mess around. If the kids want to do that too then, I just have to let them. I'll have their artwork in there forever right? That's awesome if I think of it that way.

My creative time doesn't always have to result into a sellable piece of art. This is a big one. I want to get an online shop going so, I feel like every painting has to be one I want to sell. If I keep putting that kind of pressure on myself I'm in trouble. I need to just create. Take time to practice and experiment. Just have fun and whatever happens, happens.

Doing "anything" creative counts. I sometimes feel bad when I don't get studio time or sketching time on a given day. Doing any creative activity should count as art time. My kids and I painted pumpkins yesterday and I did zero art for myself, but that's okay. I still created.

Get my discipline and organization on. I'm not incredibly disciplined. I have to ramp this part of me up. If I want to create every day I just have to do it! I also need to write out goals for the day/week/month. Find a system that works for me. I used to have schedules, deadlines and required tasks back when I worked full time in the bookstore biz. They were given to me by upper management. I'm upper management now and I need to give those things to myself.

Just carry a sketchbook around already! I'm inconsistent with this one. Part of the reason was listed above; my kids. Well, if I let go my control a little, getting snippets of time to sketch or do art should happen.

Use my resources when I'm stuck. I have a ton of art books/magazines in addition to bookmarked e-courses that should inspire me whenever I don't know what to do when I have studio time.

I think I've done a pretty good job being objective and coming up with ways to deal with my road blocks. The most important things to remember are; I'm not perfect. Don't beat myself up. Just keep trying.

Some art journal and sketchbook work I managed to accomplish. These are practice pieces inspired by Juliette Crane's How to Create Whimsical Animals e-course. If you've always wanted to create fun animals I highly recommend this course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 comments:

  1. lovely post, lynda! thanks for sharing your list. i always find i need to consistently reassess and readjust things in my life and it's always nice to hear how others are doing it :)

    best wishes!
    -juliette

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  2. Your comments speak to me! I don't have children that want to crawl up onto my lap anymore to draw/paint/craft but the other things that I do with and for them (ie. mommy taxi service) still takes up a lot of my creative time. I just don't have the 'silver lining' of having a permanent, sketchbook memory of the time spent with them now!

    I try to get to my studio every day but sometimes organizing the thread and fabric stacks must serve as "anything counts" creative time! Best to you!

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  3. I struggle w the same things! You're not alone and the art time you spend w your kids will become treasured memories to them some day! Angela in PYS

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  4. Great post! You seem to have it figured out, objectively speaking. Putting these thoughts into action requires a paradigm shift in many areas of your life, which is what you are talking about. Put your plan into practice will pay off. You will find new ways to fit creativity in your life, feel good about that which will reinforce your practice. A positive mental attitude makes all the difference. "Fake it til you make it"

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  5. Love this post...I have a black belt in beating myself up, so I can certainly relate. I love your assessment list and your ideas for getting past your issues!

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  6. Thank you everyone for your support. I appreciate it so much. After writing this post I did get in a creative groove and worked on some new things. I'm very excited to show you them soon!

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  7. This is a great post! I was on this same page just the other day. So glad you shared it. I love your paintings, so colourful.

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  8. This is such a great post. I was on this page just the other day. I'm so glad you shared it. I love your paintings, they're so colourful and fun.

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  9. What a pro-active post! Thank you for sharing your process of getting unstuck with us. So glad you got your groove back. Your work is lovely!

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  10. Great ideas to help yourself. When I get down on myself about some of the same things, I tell myself to "be gentle" with myself just like my great art friends would as well. BTW -- your work is beautiful and I still want a print of that one when you get things up and running--no pressure of course--don't want to add to your pile:)

    Jill

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  11. I am in that same spot! Not very inspired or motivated for a while now :( The girls tend to take over when I get my paint out & they are around!

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    1. Tracy, I think you just need to let the girls take the lead. You can't stop them. I have my art room set up with 3 tables making a u shape. When I paint my daughter comes over wanting to paint with me. I give her paper and let her use my paints. She's painting her project and I'm painting mine. It usually works.

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  13. Dear Sweet Lynda
    I can so sooooo relate to this right now. Gosh, I got major dumped on this week, like an avalanche..I had this whole week planned for an immersion into my art studio, but instead have been putting out multiple, emotional forest fires from everyone here, DH, my DD's..and I get frustrated and well, you know, but all I can do is carry on and push through and I know I will come out the other side. You will too and your work will be fresher for it, even if it's not obvious right away. And that owl is looking dang awesome!!!!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Susie. I'm already having to put my new attitude into play. My daughter is sick again! Poor thing can't go five minutes without coughing. I'm keeping a sketchbook at hand and I was asked to draw a dragon. Not my typical arting

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  14. I so enjoyed this post, can relate to so much. Thanks! I like what Juliette Crane said about "reassessing and readjusting" things in life. I find it is always a constant in this artistic life.
    xoxo

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  15. I recently was looking through one of my sketchbooks (must be from about three years ago) and there were some nice sketches in it, but what made me smile and feel peaceful, happy and content were my daughter's scribbles on top of some of my sketches. I remembered how happy and proud she looked at the time and how much she enjoyed working in my sketchbook like I do. (I have to admit my feelings were much less positive at the moment I discovered her working in it) Nowadays her enthusiasm for art and craft and her positive comments about my tiny efforts are often helpful to me in overcoming the whiny "everyone is so much better" thoughts. Good luck to you in finding time, energy, positive attitude and space to paint. Zoya

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    1. What a wonderful story, Zoya. Thank you so much for sharing! Yesterday my kids were playing in my sketchbook and my only rule was they had to find a blank page. We all colored together and had lots of fun. I need to remember to date them so, when I look back ill remember how old they were when they created!

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