The past few weeks have been tough. Life has simply swept me away. The daily demands of family and work are a lot in and of themselves, but when you add on top of that things like auto accidents with property damage, added work hours, a death of a close friend and the gloom of winter, I have been finding myself at the end of my strength.
As in the past, my creativity is the first thing to go. And as I realize this, I see how little value I have place on it. I have internalized the messages that art is frivolous and "extra" or a "luxury". I have even arrived at a place where I wonder if God even cares about art. I realize, after a bit of soul searching, that He does care for He is the Creator and we are made in his image, so we must be made to create and look at all the cool stuff we have created! So much beautiful art, visual and other wise has been made to worship and glorify God. Not only that but art edifies us, lifts us up and encourages us. It also makes us think and reconsider when it shocks us. Not to say that all art has a positive effect, but that potential is there.
I have to remind myself of all these things. I know now, with no doubts, that God has called me to be an artist, to share and develop my talents and use them for the encouragement and blessing of others. But realizing this is not enough. I have to take action and that is what requires strength.
It has been 20 days since I posted here. That is not my best. I want to post here a couple times a week, but when I am tired and stressed, I want to crawl into a dark, quiet place and sleep. I don't get to do that though, so, I become lethargic and apathetic, not to mention cranky!
Now I know creatives have struggled with this kind of thing through out the generations. We all know about poor Vincent Van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway. I don't think there are too many artistic people who have not at one time or another struggled to create, let alone get along with the demands and difficulties of life. But I believe it is important to realize there is a struggle and to recognize the triggers and the patterns which I fall into. I don't have to stay in this place. I'm actually thoroughly sick of being here! I hate that my motivation only comes in spurts. I especially hate that television and food are easy ways to medicate my problem rather than me taking the time to deal with my problem.
So here's my plan. I know I have to have a plan and by posting it here, I am making a declaration that I am going to follow through with the plan!
1. I am going to get more sleep... God willing...one way or another! And I am going to keep the Sabbath. We all need a day off.
2. I am going to rise early EVERY DAY before everyone else, so I can spend some time alone with God and prepare for the day. (By the way, I am taking a 30 day Rise Early Challenge to help me stay motivated. Click here to check it out and maybe get yourself inspired!)
3. I am going to walk away from the television more often. It only gets in the way of making stuff!
4. I am going to take some art classes and get involved with a writer's group. I need to be around other creative people, in a face to face way to help me stay sharp and get sharper!
5. I am going to post here at least once a week about what I am doing to make this happen.
6. Sketch daily. Write daily. Even if it's just for 15 minutes!
7. I am going to get a longer vision. Life is not an emergency!
Okay, now, before I make this list too long, I am going to stop. This is a good place to start. I would love to know what you think about my plan and share what you do to keep yourself creative when life gets hectic. Please leave a comment! I want to know what you have to say. Thanks so much for stopping by to read my thoughts. That fact that you did means so much to me!
Sharing my art with the world
Showing posts with label Van Gogh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Van Gogh. Show all posts
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Inspiration of Having a Job
Let's get practical today. I know there are those hopeless romantics out there who are offended by the notion of making art to make money and believe that art should be pure and created by the artist to express himself to the world in order to change it. They imagine an artist who is tucked away in some dingy apartment in the part of town where all the "creatives" hang out, suffering for his art, living painting to painting, not sure when he'll have money to buy his next meal. So he writes his brother who has a real job asking for some money, cuts off his ear over some dame and then because he is despondent and misunderstood by a world to hard to recognize his great talent and unique soul, he kills himself, making his art insanely valuable when sold at auction 100 years later.
Okay, that was a little about Van Gogh, who I love and who was really a very troubled man. I can relate to emotional turmoil. I've had my share. But couldn't he have been just as productive if he had not had to deal with that turmoil? Some one like Michelangelo had his emotional junk too, but he was always gainfully employed and I bet that gave him more inspiration than his inner angst.
I mean, as a creative person, it always helps to get us moving in the productive direction when we have a direction to go in. Song writers and singers don't just sing to themselves in the shower, they want people to hear them and it sure is nice to have some cash at the end of a gig to pay for gas, a meal and have a little left over for a bank account. And with times being what they are, we are all feeling a little lean and motivated lately.
When my kids went to school, I had a dilemma It was time to get a job! And a full time job is not always readily available at this time in history. So part time is helping out, but I also realized that a couple of part time jobs can be cobbled together to get closer to a full time job. Not only that, this extra alone time is a great opportunity. Needing to pay the bills just adds the fuel.
Pursuing a dream for the dream's sake could have been my motivation, but realistically, I know that I have put off the dream because I always had something else, like a payed by the hour job or children who need my attention. I can truthfully say I have more responsibilities now and have to schedule my time more carefully than I did pre-kids, so I can't say I am doing this now because of the free time. There is always stuff to fill the minutes with. And I am finding I use my evenings more consistently than any other time. Day time is for my jobs. So, I want to add another job to my daily to do list.
That makes me feel overwhelmed! But I keep going back to one thing... I want to have a career as an illustrator. I want to make cool stuff AND get paid for it. If I just wanted to make cool stuff, that could wait until I'm retired. But right now I've got to plan for the expenses of life. I'm doing illustration because I love it, but I'm going to be honest and say I'm making progress toward that dream because I want to make some money.
Oh no, that totally takes the innocent glow off of the dream. Makes it sound seamy and greedy. Yuck.
I love a song by a local singer named, Danny Flanigan, (check out his website by clicking on his name.) where he says, "Money gets me down. Down because I need it. What a stupid thing to need!" I so agree with that and I'm not going to let the lack of money get me down, but I'm going to keep working with the hope of filling that need.
I would love to know how you feel about all of this having a job and needing money thing. I bet it gets you out of bed in the morning! Please leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by!
Okay, that was a little about Van Gogh, who I love and who was really a very troubled man. I can relate to emotional turmoil. I've had my share. But couldn't he have been just as productive if he had not had to deal with that turmoil? Some one like Michelangelo had his emotional junk too, but he was always gainfully employed and I bet that gave him more inspiration than his inner angst.
I mean, as a creative person, it always helps to get us moving in the productive direction when we have a direction to go in. Song writers and singers don't just sing to themselves in the shower, they want people to hear them and it sure is nice to have some cash at the end of a gig to pay for gas, a meal and have a little left over for a bank account. And with times being what they are, we are all feeling a little lean and motivated lately.
When my kids went to school, I had a dilemma It was time to get a job! And a full time job is not always readily available at this time in history. So part time is helping out, but I also realized that a couple of part time jobs can be cobbled together to get closer to a full time job. Not only that, this extra alone time is a great opportunity. Needing to pay the bills just adds the fuel.
Pursuing a dream for the dream's sake could have been my motivation, but realistically, I know that I have put off the dream because I always had something else, like a payed by the hour job or children who need my attention. I can truthfully say I have more responsibilities now and have to schedule my time more carefully than I did pre-kids, so I can't say I am doing this now because of the free time. There is always stuff to fill the minutes with. And I am finding I use my evenings more consistently than any other time. Day time is for my jobs. So, I want to add another job to my daily to do list.
That makes me feel overwhelmed! But I keep going back to one thing... I want to have a career as an illustrator. I want to make cool stuff AND get paid for it. If I just wanted to make cool stuff, that could wait until I'm retired. But right now I've got to plan for the expenses of life. I'm doing illustration because I love it, but I'm going to be honest and say I'm making progress toward that dream because I want to make some money.
Oh no, that totally takes the innocent glow off of the dream. Makes it sound seamy and greedy. Yuck.
I love a song by a local singer named, Danny Flanigan, (check out his website by clicking on his name.) where he says, "Money gets me down. Down because I need it. What a stupid thing to need!" I so agree with that and I'm not going to let the lack of money get me down, but I'm going to keep working with the hope of filling that need.
I would love to know how you feel about all of this having a job and needing money thing. I bet it gets you out of bed in the morning! Please leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)