Patience

I make sure that my studio is stocked, reasonably organised and feeling slightly fresh when I start each new piece of work. If it’s an intense project like the one I just completed 48 hours ago (4 week project), then I tend to rinse my brushes and shut the door for at least 24 hours.

I very rarely even pop my head in the studio for at least 24 hours unless I have left my ipod behind.

So I fairly much just drop everything and walk out for a day or so. I just need that space, that feeling of not being committed to anything that requires any level of creativity.

That is why having a blog is such a great leveler. It allows you to document during recess, so to speak.

I don’t like the idea of trying to force my art. While I will spend some time during my short 24 to 48 hour break prioritising my workload and flicking through my reference material files for the next independent project, I don’t make any big plans. It’s not often that I don’t feel like starting again after a couple of days.

But if for any reason I “don’t feel like it” then I won’t force it. I don’t see the point in trying to create for sake of it. In other words, I don’t speak for the sake of speaking.

With each project I learn something new about myself in regards to my own ability and inability.

Those close to me would agree that my lack of patience at times could be referred to as my Achilles heal. But I have become quite good at understanding that patience in essence is an active strength an artist must be equipped with in order to produce good work. I do believe I have become quite good at concentrating into agony when it comes to producing my art.

As for all other areas of my life, well… I guess I can honestly say that my patience is getting much better than it used to be (wink).

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Perfection Can Be a Health Hazard

I discovered years ago that I suffered from this ailment many refer to as perfectionism. But at the same time I also discovered that while I was focusing on getting each project absolutely perfect, every other area of my life kind of suffered as a result.

I have been a musician for many years and spent many hours in a studio environment producing my own songs. The problem I suffered in the early days was this need for perfection in my music lead me to smoking a packet of cigarettes and drinking about 10 cups of coffee throughout a day’s session. On top of this I was hardly eating anything.

The worst part was though; I was very much unaware of what I was doing. I was in the zone, absolutely focused on one thing and one thing only.

My cousin visited me during a recording session one day and remarked, “This isn’t as much of a creative room as it is a killing room”.

Of course he was referring to the ashtrays of cigarette butts and empty coffee cups we left around the studio.

Additionally, I simply never had any time for anyone or anything else outside of my working environment because I had to keep working to get it right.

Get The Job Done Properly

I believe that with anything you do that is worth doing you have to work to get the job done properly. In other words, I don’t cut corners, don’t make excuses and I ensure that I get done what I set out to get done with an adventurous attitude.

But as for fighting for perfection, well… I really try hard to avoid getting caught up that mindset these days.

I discovered that behind my need for perfection actually stood a big fear that I was not really consciously aware of at the time. In other words, I was fighting for perfection based on a preconceived public expectation. Of course, there was no public expectation at all. But my mind was working in accordance to this “preconceived” expectation.

The problem with seeking perfection is that the harder you work to attain it, the further you move away from your real objective.

The best thing you can do is to really work hard at what you do. Be the best that you can be, but do it with a passionate mindset rather than a perfectionist mindset.

The new “perfect” is doing what you do with absolute passion and doing it consistently.

I make mistakes. In fact I think I have made more mistakes than anyone I know. But you can’t really hear the colour in a note if you are not allowed to make mistakes.

There is so much fun in striving towards discovery instead of perfection, so try to avoid looking for the perfect ending because it doesn’t really exist. Work hard at being yourself instead of working hard for perfection. It will show on the canvas too.

If you wait to reach the perfect moment you’ll never really get much done anyway.

The idea is to work as hard as you can and do the best that you can (challenge yourself) and chances are you’ll naturally get so close to being perfect that people wont be able to tell the difference (wink).

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An Artists Adventure

I have always believed you need to incorporate a sense of adventure when creating art. I discovered right from the beginning; if you don’t adapt some adventure to your work, you can often get caught up with all sorts of obstacles like doubt, frustration and procrastination.

An artist should be adventurous in order to discover new concepts – to discover new ground.

I know from my own experience, when I adapt the right attitude and look at each painting as a new adventure, I experience that “flow” and get a lot of work done.

When you adapt an adventurous attitude to your work, you quickly discover some really great ideas pop up, and you can quickly incorporate them without hesitation.

If you really want to discover your “best” then get adventurous. You will discover things about yourself as an artist that you didn’t think you were capable of.

Dare yourself to break some new ground. Forget trying to “get competent” as an artist. Why not “get challenged” instead. Say “goodbye” to preconceptions for a little while and work with an open mind.

In other words, learn to trust your own instincts; that way you’ll begin to develop your “working flow”.

Do everything you can with regard to being adventurous to genuinely “amuse yourself” while you work.

Are you going to make mistakes? Well yeah, I can pretty much guarantee that you will. But that is where the whole concept of “gaining experience” comes into the game of being an artist.

When you hear someone looking at your art say, “Hey, this looks like you had a lot of fun putting it together” or something along those lines; you know that you are on the right track. I mention this point because these are the very types or remarks I receive quite a lot from people viewing and buying my art.

I once smartly remarked, “Thankyou, I appreciate your comments – and yes, I do know how to entertain myself (wink)“.

An artist needs to get inquisitive about what they are doing, or at least what they are trying to do. It’s kind of like being a kid again. A child has this genuine wonder about almost everything. They are free from cynicism, opinion, “the known” and preconceptions. They are free to explore – to be adventurous.

So in many respects, if you ever feel you are getting a bit stale standing in front of the canvas, then adapt a sense of wonder when working.

It’s kind of like taking on this attitude that says, “I wonder what would happen if I did this…”

Getting adventurous is all about fighting that fear of the unknown, and discovering the adventure of the unknown.

So get some adventure into your creative diet!

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