Sunday, August 18, 2013

In Progress

I was hoping to be done with this by now, but then again, a work in progress is better than not working at all.


I often use the Macbook Pro to show my reference photos...I'd rather do it this way than print the images. Alternatively, I would much rather work from life, but that is for another post.

When you paint, how do you work? Do you include technology, work from photos, only work from life, drink Monster Energy? I would love to know how you work.

- Cheers

Friday, August 16, 2013

Energy Sucking

Are there things sucking the energy out of your life and keeping you from creating? A job, friends, family, the Internet? Dealing with energy suckers is part of being a creative. I have let the energy suckers almost kill my passion for art and photography.

Wether you are a painter, writer, photographer, athlete, musician, teacher, factory worker, etc, it doesn't matter. External pressures and interruptions cause the energy to be sucked right out of you. More importantly, these things can suck the energy out of you right when you are on the verge of doing something about those dreams you have (or had). 

Dealing with the energy suckers is paramount to balancing life with following a dream. If you must go to work (because the dream you are chasing does pay enough yet), find time when you are not at work to do that thing you are passionate about. Treat your time off the regular job, as a job, and carve out time in the day to follow your dreams. Be sure to have down time too, following your dream doesn't mean you have to give up your social life. 

If all of this sounds like common sense, it should. Remember, you will always be were you are at, if you never start taking steps to get where you want to be. Carving out time to follow your dreams will build your energy up to help keep the energy suckers from sucking the life out of your dreams. Eventually, you may stop doing things that used to suck the energy out of you altogether (television is a good example), your daily routine will be reduced to the things that you truly find important and productive. 

The energy will build, and the dream will become reality...the energy suckers will always be there. However, you will have the mindset to continue on the path of following your dreams, and will have the tools to deal with them in order keep moving in the right direction.

Dream big - create - and live your life

Monday, August 12, 2013

Slow to Start - Where is the Drive?

Resistance keeps us from doing the things we love. It may be that we are busy, or laziness, procrastination, or just that overwhelming feeling that keeps us from doing the things we love. 

Over the years I have let these things defeat me as an artist. Almost to the point of giving up. Just look at the post dates here on the blog. As a fine artist I have been defeated by the notion of not making enough money to support my family, cover health expenses, and plan for retirement. I make a great deal of money at a "job" that I don't hate, but does get in the way of my productivity.

Today, at this very moment, I am exhausted and frustrated. I am too tired to produce art, and it is frustrating me that I have not been a productive artist in years. Many of you know I have been working as a photographer, blogging for my personal project (The Thirsty Muse), which I enjoy both, and intend to continue. But what does this mean for my art? Is there enough time to be a painter, photographer, writer, teacher, and full time employee while balancing my family life?

The economy may have killed the market, and we may all blame anything to feel better about why we have "given up" on our art...or just ceased to create. The blame lies with us, it is our fault. If we love it, and it makes us happy, then what are waiting for? Who cares if we make a living selling the art, does that make us any less professional than the whore of an artist who creates terrible art but makes a living from it? And let us be honest, our ideas of "making a living" are subjective. In Ohio, I can sell less than someone who lives in New York City to make a living. The 20-something, dirty, sloppy artist willing to live on nothing but sell his art on the street can live on less. If you want $300,000 per year from your art, then make that a goal. However, I suggest you do the art for your soul, not the money.

Don't let resistance kill your drive. Don't let money be the driving force to your artistic career...remember why you picked up a brush and started in the first place. Yes, it is a slow start, but I am sure the drive is still there; it is just buried in the daily crap we all have to deal with.

In the months to come, I hope to get back to sharing my artistic journey on this blog. Between this blog, the Warth Photo blog, and the thirsty muse, I expect to be writing a lot! Feel free to come visit me on my other blogs too. My creativity is all linked, and makes me the artist I am today.

Go have a great day, make the best of it, and produce something!