Another day, another dollar…
I hope everyone is alive and well…and well, creating more art than me. Because if you aren’t, then you aren’t creating. Do you ever have those times in your life when art doesn’t just take a back seat, but it is in a different vehicle altogether? For all of my talk on how to stay motivated and inspired, what is to be done when life simply pushes its big ‘ol nose in your face, and you can’t get away from it all? It’s not that I feel uninspired. On the contrary, I feel I have much to say. But my efforts are going in a million directions and I am spread thinner than paper. It’s so hard to streamline and make choices of what to keep and what to eliminate in my life.
When I look back at the last year, I really do have a lot to be proud of. I’ve lost almost 40 pounds, paid off $25,000 in debt, and restored my completely broken marriage (with my husband’s help of course). But along the lines of art, I have only had one show, sold very little, donated to some charitable auctions, done a few demos and a handfull of classes. Let’s be honest - that’s not where I want to be. I have been doing this long enough where I look back and start saying “if only…” and it’s distressing.
I am not trying to garner sympathy, but I feel the need to vent. I know from having artist friends long enough that this is normal, to go through phases. But I feel like I’ll be in a perpetual phase as my life never slows down. I scrape something off the plate only to have something else, or maybe two or three somethings miraculously take its place.
Today I wrote a list. Lists are nice, because I can cross things off as I accomplish them. But I often get discouraged as my list will have many more things on it than I have hours in the day to complete it. Inevitably, half the list carries to the next day, as I add another pile of goodies to tackle. Today, though, I tried to be reasonable and realistic. I also tried to give myself little victories, by accomplishing some of the quick small stuff. We’ll see what happens. Maybe I can create tomorrow…..
May 21st, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I just ordered “Living the Artist’s Life” by Paul Dorrell. You’re saying “that’s not where I want to be” really strikes a chord with me. The book tells how the author got out of his “hole”. I am hoping to find out how to get out of mine. I’ll let you know if it’s helpful. Good to see you back and writing!!
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:14 am
Good Morning, the anti-art lifestyle seems to be epidemic. At least it is firmly settled in here. My two poppyrow projects are finished, but were done in haste & in the most disorganized art space possible, which was NOT helpful. Still, I look at them each morning for a litte boost. I understand completely the rule (with no name) that says for every “something” finished two more appear to take its place. When overwhelmed, I find myself paralyzed with an epic malais.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Oh Darlene, I know that paralysis!! Sometimes when I should be eating the elephant one bite at a time, I am just staring at it, wondering if it’s going to eat me.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I love both of these comments - the term “epic malais” is golden. It’s so true, too. And it’s my fault when I’m overwhelmed. We are all going to have problems and issues, challenges and dilemmas. Our response is our own personal responsibility. In my life, I have tried dealing with various situations in a variety of ways. The times I most successful is when I stay true to myself, maintain perspective, and cultivate peace in my life.