Deterred or Determined?

- from Robin

Even when things are going well in the studio, there can be so many other things that intrude upon creativity or cause you to question your work.
How do you deal with those?
A buyer is dissatisfied with a painting they bought, a gallery doesn't pay you for sales, old paintings sit around your studio challenging your new works, or sales are so low you wonder why you keep making new art.

I find these issues undermine mine confidence but sometimes they also serve as an impetus. When things are going badly in other areas, being able to pour yourself into your art can let you play ostrich for awhile. And also maybe stretch yourself.

If you are like me, maybe these frustrations can drive you to the easel with more determination than ever. As if to "show them" that they are wrong and to prove to yourself that you are worthy. Our self worth is so wrapped up in our art, and each piece it like a little part of us going out into the world to be judged. Don't let set backs deter you! Go back to your work and remember why you do it. Do it for yourself if for no other reason. Maybe you will create your next big thing.

Book Report

Hi friends!
I suppose the silence on here is a good thing... we're all busily and happily working away, right? Well, not quite in my case. I was quite busy preparing for a solo show not long ago. Towards the end of the build up, I took a workshop and maybe derailed myself. I came back from New York City full of inspiring ideas, but just as I had dealt with on location, was unable to express what was in my head on the canvas. I seriously have pages in my journal/sketchbook where I thought I should just quit. Focus on being on the PTA, a dedicated mother and housekeeper, maybe get a part time job to fill in the economic gaps... I really hit a low and was seriously thinking that it was over. I've done this before, but not this bad.

Then I went to my bookshelf and picked up "Art & Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland which I'd read years ago - and then downloaded it from Audible to have it read to me in bed at night (lots of sleepless nights during this bleak time too).

What a huge help it was. After just a couple of chapters, I was ready to try again and cut myself some slack. It was as if the book had been written directly to me. I read passages aloud to my husband - things which described my angst, how hard it is to separate my art failures from me as a person, how much I demanded of myself, etc. There are a lot of great ideas in this book and if you are like me, a perfectionist and rather hard on yourself, its a great reminder that art is about imperfections and interpretation and its personal and most definitely not formulaic.

So I am back on track. I'm allowing myself to enjoy the summer and not stress about production. I am taking a slower approach. I have goals for the next steps of my art journey - another thing the book suggests. Its always good to have something to look forward to. And I do.

There must be thousands of inspiring books on creativity out there, what has moved you?

-- Robin

Do you admire another artist - to distraction?

from Robin Cheers

There is so much eye candy out there that you could easily spend hours poring over other artist's work every day. From magazines and books to online galleries, websites and blogs, the access to art is amazing. And overwhelming.

This can be too much of a good thing. Its quite natural for artists to admire and want to learn from others, but if you spend too much time allowing all those images clutter your mind, you will not be able to express your own vision. I think its great to look to others to see how a problem was solved, or to inspire a unique approach in your own work, but only as a springboard. Sometimes copying a master's work is a great lesson in color mixing and design. And if you are very careful, you might distinguish how the paint was applied, which layers were first, how the paint varies from transparent to opaque. But trying to paint like someone else in all your paintings will only lead to disappointment. You will inevitably see your work as a failure, because you aren't giving voice to your own creativity.

Learning to express ourselves is a bit like a treasure hunt. Through honest expression and the belief that we have something important to share in our work, we create work that not only pleases us, but inspires others.

Everyone Needs Encouragement

By Terri M Wells

I can’t agree more with Kate about the importance of being a part of an affirming and encouraging group. Some artists get together and the competitive tensions fill the air, the angst pins people to the floor, and the jealousies bring out the worst in people. Other groups affirm, encourage, enlighten, and challenge their members. Life can be hard.

Perhaps you need a little encouragement yourself….well read on.

Recently, a PAA member was on our yahoo group, and unlike most of the tips and paint out attendance posts, she posted about going through a rough time and needing the encouragement of seeing the lovely paintings from our group show that she was going to miss. Having heard from many people that my reply post was encouraging, I would like to share it with you.

Nov 05, 2010

"Returned to Davidson Ranch today to paint for the Hill Country Conservancy show. It hit me when I got on the property, memories of visiting the first time right after mom and Irene's deaths. I remember looking at the burnt grassland restoration areas and being drawn to them. David's (my son's) near death at Basic training and then his finishing extra training while hiding a broken leg, Mom's death from a long fight from cancer, and Irene's release from life at 98 years .... it was a kind of life-burning and yet out of the difficult experiences a kind of sweetness...a promise, a hope, remained. The burnt areas had promising spring green seedlings and flowers interspersed among the rock and charred remains. Promise and hope were visibly here on the ranch that day.

So today I returned to the ranch restoration area. All the turmoil of emotions tied to the last year flooded in with the realization that the year plus has matured me into a new place. A peace has returned like the beautiful grasses that have covered the burnt areas in silver blue, tans, and burnt siennas. Tall and waving in the wind, the grassy fronds move in the soothing momentum, covering the harshness of the burnt land. My faith is stronger. My view of life is different. Rooted in God and moving with the motions of life, there is promise and hope fulfilled.

I'll post my paintings from the show. All I have to offer is a long distance hug. – Terri

Encourage each other and build each other up!

Very encouraging teacher, Timothy Horn.

by Kate Merriman

OK, since I just posted about a Zen experience, let's mix it up!  (And don't worry, no particular religious view is required here, just finding these inputs inspiring my thoughts about art and creativity.)  This was a verse that I got from the Salvation Army (somehow) and that I had taped to my car's dashboard for years. 
From Thessalonians:  "Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Simple, eh?  Yet, not so common in real life. 

But when that uncommon spirit of encouragement and generosity happen with a group of artists, sparks fly, courage grows, art expands!

When I moved to Texas, I knew just about no one except a few coworkers.  Luckily, I did a little Googling and found the Plein Air Austin group.  At that point, I didn't really consider plein air or landscape really "my thing" but I did know that I wanted to meet some fellow painters and that plein air practice always honed my painting skill overall.  So I signed up and put a paint-out on my calendar.

Well, I stumbled into just that uncommon and delightful kind of group that does share, does encourage and has a thriving, contributing membership as a result.  On my first paint-out, it was the very simplest things that made a big difference: Laurel Daniel made time to come over and introduce herself, having spotted me as someone new.  Huge!   Others were welcoming and happy to talk about how and what they were painting.  The vibe was "come on down, no matter your skill level, and let's learn and enjoy together."

Groups where the opposite attitude prevails tend, in my experience, to wither away.  I've been reading "Linchpin" by Seth Godin and am loving his emphasis on how a generous-hearted, fearless attitude gets you everything but a poverty mentality (can't give you anything because then there will be less for me) shuts you down.  Same thing as Paul was saying (I think) to his buddies in Thessaloniki.

So, my points are these:

1 - take the time to find a group that has this generous spirit, even if the discipline or focus isn't what you thought you needed or wanted.
2 - if you are part of a group, reach out to newcomers, be generous with your encouragement.  Don't think of inspiration or knowledge as something that will diminish if shared.  Think the opposite.  Especially if you are in a leadership spot, your attitude will make an enormous impact on all the group's activity; trust me!
3 - give yourself a job with the group so you are more likely to show up.  I know when I have a commitment to bring something or help out in some way, my obligation to others will stand strong where my duty to my own artistic self might be floudering.  Regularly scheduled art activity keeps me from sinking into too long a spell of creative blockage when I do have a spell.

Ideas for finding a group that might keep that creative juice flowing:

1 - Sign up for a workshop or class.  Introduce yourself to the people whose spirit and art attract you.  Ask them what groups they enjoy or recommend. 
2 - Google around for local plein air and sketching (or sketch crawl) groups.  Read their blogs or community posts.  You can often see a lot about the group that way, but go check it out in person too.
3 - Don't put up with energy vampires and wet blankets.  Just walk away.
4 - Start your own group!  My mother saw me posting about some sketch-crawl stuff we were doing in Austin and was bummed that there wasn't a group like that near her.  But just a few days later, she turned that around and created her own little group who still meet regularly and seem to be having a blast.  Go Mom!
5 - Check out "Meetup".  I haven't tried this myself yet, but might soon!  http://painting.meetup.com/
6 - Look at "Links".  Often, when I find an artist who has a great energy and passion for sharing about creativity and art, I can find a 'links' page on their blog or website.  Those links can be a good source for ways to connect with others.

Go artists!
-- Kate Merriman