My Art. How to FOCUS more on my own art, and get myself into the ‘creative zone’...

I am someone who likes challenges. I like structure, rules, deadlines, goals... I like to throw myself at a project full-pelt, and yes, usually a bit of collateral damage (often burn-out) is done along the way...

I don’t want to be like that anymore. I want a different pace. I want to find my own harmony, and to set my own goals that I work towards slowly but surely... Let’s not even call them goals... They are just the things that I want to do. I want to focus on them better – have more patience and persistence... and definitely NOT have too many things going on at once, and leave too many projects unfinished... Or be distracted too easily by a ‘new’ super-duper idea that I’ve had... or be influenced by the gravitational pull of somebody else!

How do I do that? Can I do that??

I think the key for me will be to S-L-O-W D-O-W-N a lot!

You know all those other ‘goals’ (or To-Do things) that I have been forever neglecting: Like getting regular exercise!!! Decluttering, getting my office and house more organised... cooking healthier and yummier food, relaxing...

Yep – all of those things are important to do. And not in a tick-list: gotta cross them all off the list before I am even allowed to breathe kind of way. No. They’re not  “to-do” things.. They’re just life. They are my priorities, my values, and my own personal obstacles that I have put in my way.

When I have finally done A + B + C... it won’t necessarily = X

(I am also a very mathematically minded person!)

No. Life is not that simple. Life is messy. Life is mixed-up, unpredictable... and often trying to squish you down or hold you back from what you are leaning into the wind trying to achieve.

Life has it’s own cycles and rhythms. You have to go with the flow. Like a little rock or shell being tossed in the waves, eroded on the sand... pushed and pulled in different directions – and perhaps one day picked up by a curious beach-comber and taken to a different place... You have NO idea exactly where you will end up. You have NO control. You are just you, and you just have to be.

(oh my. I’ve crawled into some kind-of overly philosophical place... it’s too soft and squidgy here! I don’t think I like it... – time to move on!)

Where was I?

Oh yes, MY ART... Trying to FOCUS... (oh dear!)

My Art is just me. I have to make me and my life happier and healthier and how I want it. I need to go for walks every day. I need to focus on my family and a good proportion of my responsibilities... (don’t go over the top! – just clean the house and tidy to a somewhat acceptable standard every now and then...)

By walking, looking, thinking, smelling, relaxing, enjoying, etc. I will naturally be in a much better place to create.

My art is whatever the heck I make of it... I am a bit mixed-media (painting, clay, printing, paper) – but that’s okay. I am allowed to PLAY and explore in my art. I need to. I must.

I think I HAVE TO lose the ideas of making PRODUCTS. That is NOT my art. That direction is too confined, stifling and sets up all these extra hurdles and limitations.... Yes – it applies rules and structure (which is what I tend to like) – but for now, especially, I think I need to give myself a LOT more creative FREEDOM!  SO the ‘product’ ideas can all go and jump themselves into the bin for a little while! (Okay, maybe a few of them can fall into my work segment of life – but there needs to be a distinct and separate ‘my art’ part of my life that I am nurturing..)

So how am I nurturing it again??

Oh heck. I need some boundaries.. some tangible ‘goals’ written down..

Here goes:

-         - Walk daily – think about my art... quick sketches and notes as I feel like it each day.

-         - We’re almost in JULY... hmmm. Okay I want to produce 1 x ‘significant’ art-work each month! (how I do that, is up to me.. what medium it is.. size, scale, etc. doesn’t matter) – just have the goal to produce 1 piece that I consider to be ‘finished’ and that I am proud of!

-         - That’s it. Just do it. – and my goal is to have a small exhibition of my work in October 2015 (to coincide with my 40^th birthday)...

-        
          As yet I can’t determine what the main body of my work will be – or any particular ‘themes’ – I just have to start art-working and see what eventuates.

-         I’d like to give myself  1 day – or 2 x half days a week, that have a ‘My ART’ focus in order to achieve this..

Good-luck Lindy-Lou! Enjoy it, and you deserve it. It is YOUR passion – you have to go out there and do it. No more denial, excuses, guilt, etc. Just believe in yourself and try it! xo