Why Aren’t You Painting?
When you find yourself neatly rearranging your studio, taking inventory of the many paint brushes you proudly possess, filing clippings or paging through an art supply catalog filled with tempting gadgets and luscious new colors, you are not painting! Who hasn’t indeed procrastinated under the convenient masquerade of getting involved in some kind of art business…yes, it is so easy to do. Don’t most of us secretly wish to fit the mold fostered mostly by non-artists, namely the romantic image of the artist who leads a carefree bohemian life style and picks up a brush driven by some mysterious moment of inspiration? Don’t we wish!
Painting is mostly manual messy labor that requires some of the discipline of a routine and the dedication of rituals. You may want to set time aside for art with the same seriousness and sense of purpose you would for any important work project. If being an artist is the only job you have, why not treat it as a full time occupation? Plan a weekly realistic schedule during which time you make a commitment to your art. Taking classes can provide an easy locked in structure. In addition, there are the obvious benefits of painting with others especially if you prefer the comfort of a more social environment. The energy generated by a group can be exhilarating, furthermore feedback from both participants and the teacher usually adds positively to the experience. Just like in any work situation you will need some kind of work outfit. Changing into your painting gear might just help to transition into that work mode. Set aside a pile of painting clothes which you can discard once they have become too worn.
Should one keep a schedule when traveling and/or vacationing? Obviously that depends a great deal. I do and I don’t. Between occupations I always give myself some transition time. When traveling, regardless of the length of the journey, I take my sketchbook and camera, but I give myself a vacation from painting. I take some time to purposefully fill my well with images and sensory experiences. Later with some distance I hope to draw from my repertoire and translate my enthusiasm into paintings.
PS: I am planning a vacation to South Africa and will be leaving soon. My next Artblog will be published in October.